Your teeth are important for more than just a beautiful smile. Every tooth is essential for allowing you to chew a variety of nutritious foods to support your overall wellness. However, at least 35 million Americans are missing all their teeth. Maintaining a balanced diet can be almost impossible if you don’t replace your lost teeth with dentures. Dentures can restore your ability to chew many foods, but there are a few things you should know about how your new set of teeth may affect your nutrition.
Poor-Fitting Dentures Can Harm Your Health
Advancements in materials and technologies allow dentures to fit more comfortably than ever before. They should rest on top of your gums, only relying on suction to stay in place. However, dentures can fit poorly over time because your mouth will change shape from bone loss. This can cause your dentures to slip or fall out at the worst times, like when eating your dinner. Certain foods can make slipping and irritation worse, which may cause you to eliminate them from your diet. This can lead to nutritional deficiencies that can harm your health.
Dentures Can Improve Your Nutrition
Well-fitting dentures can improve your nutrition because they allow you to eat many foods crucial to your wellness. With regular relining, your dentures can fit comfortably and serve you for many years to support a healthy mouth and body.
Although you can enjoy several foods, your dentist will instruct you to have hard and chewy foods in moderation. They can be difficult to chew, which can damage your dentures over time. They may even cause jaw pain and gum inflammation. If you can’t resist a juicy steak, cut it into small pieces to make it easier to chew. A denture adhesive can provide you with more stability when enjoying tough meats, but it is not something you want to rely on regularly.
Discover the Difference with Dental Implants
If you’re ready to stop slipping and irritation for good, it might be time to consider implant dentures. 4 to 10 implant posts are placed into your jawbone to serve as new tooth roots. Your jaw will fuse to them, providing unmatched support and stability for your denture. You can regain up to 70% of your biting force, so there’s nothing you can’t eat.
Tooth loss doesn’t have to affect your health negatively. You have many options to replace your missing teeth. You’ll invest in a beautiful, functional smile to support your health and well-being with the best tooth replacement.
About Dr. Justin Woodruff
Dr. Woodruff earned his dental degree from the University of Louisville School of Dentistry and has continued his education in various specialties, including dental implants. He strives to help each patient achieve their best smile using the latest solutions in dentistry. Request an appointment through his website or call his office at (847) 272-0049.