Warm summer weather is on the horizon. What seasonal foods can (and can't) you eat with dentures? If this is your first summer as a new denture wearer, take a look at what you need to know before your next picnic, backyard barbeque, or beach vacation meal.
What can you pack in your warm-weather picnic basket? Dentures shouldn't stop you from eating. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, missing teeth can affect your ability to properly chew food. The use of dentures can correct this issue and make it easier to eat. But that doesn't mean you should chew everything at the picnic table - especially if your dentures are new.
Picnic foods are an ideal temperature for most new denture wearers. Dentures can make it difficult to judge temperatures. Without the ability to heat picnic basket items, you'll reduce the burn risk. If you're not sure what to fill your summer-time picnic basket with, consider:
- Soft sandwiches. Avoid toasted or hard bread products. These are tough to chew and may put too much stress on your dentures. Instead, choose soft bread and easy-to-eat fillers. A hummus spread, jam, or chipped lunch meat are denture-friendly foods.
- Fruit. Even though whole apples, pears, and similar hard fruits are out right now, you can enjoy a banana or thinly sliced (and peeled) fruits. Individual containers of apple sauce are an easy option immediately after you get new dentures.
- Yogurt. Yogurt or a well-blended yogurt smoothie provides plenty of calcium. Choose a sugarfree option to make this picnic pick a healthy choice.
Avoid anything chewy, tough, sharp, or spicy. Keep crackers, popcorn, crunchy peanut butter, and raw vegetables out of your picnic basket.
Barbeque Bounty
What can you eat at a backyard barbeque? Again, your dentures will help you to chew foods you may have had difficulty eating before. Even though you won't have the ability to chew every barbeque menu item, some of the top choices for this type of warm-weather event include:
- Pulled pork. Barbequed pulled pork is soft, tender, and easy to eat. Pair this pick with a soft bun rather than a hard roll or crusty bread.
- Corn bread. You love the taste of corn. But corn on the cob is on the to-avoid list right now. Enjoy this barbeque favorite in a different form. Corn bread provides the taste you enjoy - as a soft, easy-to-eat option.
- Hamburgers. A thin burger is soft and easy to chew. Avoid sticky sauces or tough-to-eat toppings. Like with pulled pork, choose a soft bun to sandwich your grilled burger.
- Soft grilled vegetables. Raw vegetables are tough to chew. But grilled soft versions (such as sliced peppers) are options to include. Make sure to chop or slice grilled vegetables into easy-to-manage pieces.
Barbeque items to avoid include sticky ribs, corn on the cob, or any type of meat that's well-done and chewy.
Beach Treats
What can you eat on your beach vacation? If this is the first time you've traveled with dentures, relax and enjoy your newfound ability to eat. Even though you can now dine on plenty of treats you previously couldn't eat with missing or damaged teeth, you still need to think carefully about menu choices. Summer vacation food choices may include:
- Ice cream. This boardwalk treat is a better option than sticky candy, such as saltwater taffy. Avoid hard toppings such as nuts or sticky caramel coatings.
- Easy-to-chew meats. Dinner out can include meat - provided that it's soft, easy to chew, and cut into small pieces.
- Flaky fish. Enjoy the local beach's seafood. Stay away from tough, chewy shellfish or other similar sea selections. Choose a flaky fish and cut it into manageable bites.
Along with saltwater taffy, avoid other similar types of candy, sticky cotton candy, nuts, popcorn, chewy seafood, or tough meat.
