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An Aspen Dental dentures patient eats an ice cream cone.
DENTURE RESOURCES

Can you eat with dentures?

Of course! Eating with traditional dentures can come with a learning curve, so our denture experts compiled everything you need to know for a smooth transition.

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How to eat with dentures. Bite size tips for eating with dentures: take it slow, start small, chew on both sides, add a dab of adhesive.

How to eat with dentures

Eating with dentures can feel unfamiliar at first. Until you get comfortable, enjoy food in no time by:

  • Chewing slowly

  • Taking small bites at the beginning

  • Chewing food on both sides of your mouth to prevent your denture from rocking or loosening

  • Applying a small amount of denture adhesive for extra stability


Hungry for more?

Check out our food recommendations and adhesive application tips.

DIG IN WITH DENTURES

Things you can eat with dentures

Choosing dentures doesn’t mean giving up your favorite foods. Learn what’s on the menu and when as you get used to dentures.

Soft foods only - 1 to 2 weeks of healing.

Soft foods only

When you’re starting your healing journey, you and your gums will need R&R time. Treat your gums with care by preparing soft, nutritional foods that are easy to eat without causing irritation. Enjoy foods like:

  • Protein shakes & smoothies

  • Lukewarm soup

  • Soft breads & pasta

  • Mashed potatoes

  • Applesauce & hummus


Skip
: hot foods, chewing gum, nuts and foods that may cause gum pain.

Expand your options: 2 to 4 months of healing.

Expand your options

As you get the hang of eating with dentures, reward yourself with new meals on the menu. The better your mouth feels, the more you can add firm foods back into your diet, such as:

  • Stewed or slow-cooked meats

  • Cooked veggies & rice

  • Eggs


Expert insight
: if you wear an upper denture, food may taste a bit different. While this is normal due to the roof of your mouth being covered, you can explore upgrading to an implant denture so food tastes like new.

6+ months after healing. Enjoy what you want.

Enjoy what you want

Delicious news! After your new denture is a comfortable part of your daily life, you can get back to most of the tasty treats you enjoy, such as:

  • Ground meats

  • Most ripe fruits

  • Desserts & chocolate

  • Chips (occasionally)


Remember
: chew thoroughly and add proper cleaning and care to make your denture(s) last.

Things you can’t eat with dentures

Foods off the menu

To make sure your denture fits long-term, take a pass on:

  • Tough or hard foods

  • Creamy foods (nut butters)

  • Dense foods (dense bread)

  • Chewy or sticky foods (gum, taffy, etc.)

  • Extremely hot/cold foods (while healing)

For more tips to get the most out your denture, explore our denture care resource.

READY, SET, EAT!

Adhesives for dentures

Learn how to apply denture adhesive like a pro to skip slippage and discomfort while eating. For recommendations on which adhesives to use, talk to your local care team.

Adhesive for dentures: upper arch
HOW-TO

Upper arch

  • Get your denture clean and dry

  • Hold the arch, teeth facing the floor

  • Apply 1 dime-sized dollop to the top of your denture at the center

  • Insert and bite down for 1 minute

Pro tip: Skip smoothing the adhesive with your finger; when you bite down, the adhesive will naturally spread out.

Adhesive for dentures: lower arch.
HOW-TO

Lower arch

  • Get your denture clean and dry

  • Hold the arch, teeth facing the floor

  • Apply 4 small drops in a U-shape, following the denture gum line

  • Insert and bite down for 1 minute

Reapply check!

If you choose to use adhesives, reapply after drinking liquids or eating. For a fresh fit, make sure to:

  • Rinse your denture of debris & residue

  • Dry your denture

  • Reapply adhesive

  • Reinsert and bite down

Don’t love adhesives?
Explore implant dentures.

Done eating?

Time to clean up

Learn how to clean your denture after meals and before bed to maintain your denture.

Explore denture cleaning tips

Need more help?

If the tips above don’t make eating easier, you may need one of two things: a reline, which resurfaces your denture for an improved fit; or a replacement, to get an entirely new smile.

Explore denture relinesExplore denture replacements

Keep learning

Back to living with dentures

Caring for dentures

Getting used to dentures

Denture resources home