Dentures, though a fantastic solution for missing teeth, may have some pitfalls when it comes to nutrition. In fact, recent research suggests that many patients who wear dentures aren’t getting their recommended vitamins and minerals. But why is that? Continue reading to learn how dentures may affect your food choices and why implanted dentures could be the solution.
The Role of Dentures in Digestion
Whether you have partial or full prosthetics, they are essential to replacing missing teeth required for proper chewing. Your digestive process starts in your mouth with your teeth and saliva working together to break down the food.
The denser the bite is, the more chewing it needs to create a workable mass for swallowing. While dentures improve this process with many types of food, others may be more difficult. This can cause larger particles of unprocessed food to enter your digestive tract, causing indigestion, acid reflux, or intestinal discomfort.
How Dentures Affect Food Choice
Dentures can replace many teeth at once, but they only restore a fraction of your chewing power. Because of this, dentures have difficulty chewing certain foods, and some patients simply remove them from their diet. For many, eating foods like steak, peanut butter, or raw veggies isn’t worth the hassle. This can lead to neglecting several important macros and micronutrients they need for proper health.
How Do Implanted Dentures Help?
While traditional dentures are a fantastic and cost-effective way to restore missing teeth, they’re often too unstable. Dental implants can change this. Your dentist can surgically implant four to eight implant fixtures into your jawbone to create sturdy anchors. After a healing period, a new prosthetic can be put on over the implants and fixed into place.
An implanted denture can restore 70 percent or more of your bite force and vastly improve your ability to chew. This allows you to eat a wider variety of foods without difficulty, restoring important vitamins and minerals to your body.
So, if you find yourself struggling with your menu every week, it might be your dentures holding you back. However, you may be able to get implanted dentures to improve your eating habits. If you’re ready to return to eating all your favorite foods, reach out to your dentist for a consultation today!
About the Author
Dr. Admasu Gizachew is in dentistry to help his patients achieve happier, healthier smiles one visit at a time. He earned his dental doctorate from New York University and regularly exceeds expectations when it comes to continuing education. He’s eager to learn about new technologies and techniques that could help him serve his patients better. Call (732) 475-7535 to schedule a denture consultation at Nu Dental Brick or visit the website to see other services they offer.