How Can Dentures Affect My Nutrition?

Tooth loss can lead to many oral and overall health issues such as trouble speaking, dental misalignments, and oral infections, but one of the most significant ways in which it can affect a person’s life is how it can diminish their ability to chew. Chewing is the crucial first step of the digestive process, and not being able to do it properly can lead to problems like indigestion and malnutrition. Here’s a brief guide to how dentures can allow you to eat an interesting diet of nutritious foods that keep your body healthy and strong.

How Can Traditional Dentures Improve My Chewing Ability?

People with missing teeth are more likely to experience malnutrition, and this can lead to a wide array of health and quality-of-life issues. Thankfully, traditional dentures can restore a considerable amount of the patient’s original biting and grinding power so they can enjoy many foods that would be impossible to chew without teeth.

Traditional full dentures hold their place in the mouth through natural suction, which gives them a fairly stable foundation for exerting the leverage necessary for proper chewing. Partial dentures may also incorporate metal clips that allow them to attach to the remaining natural teeth for added security.

Do Traditional Dentures Restore All of My Chewing Ability?

Unfortunately, there are limitations to how much chewing power traditional dentures can restore. Since they are not anchored in the oral tissues, they cannot exert all the force that natural teeth can, and this can make it difficult to enjoy tough foods such as steak and other cuts of fresh meat as well as crunchy items like seeds, nuts, and raw fruits and veggies.

How Can I Achieve Maximum Chewing Force with Dentures?

If you’re looking for a way to maximize your chewing ability after extensive tooth loss, implant dentures may be the best option for you. Dental implants are titanium posts surgically inserted into the jawbone and fused with the surrounding structure through the natural process of osseointegration, and these devices can give your dentures the sturdy hold they need to exert maximum chewing force and allow you to enjoy any foods you like.

With excellent care, implant dentures can last for decades or a lifetime, which can save you lots of money that would have been spent on expensive replacement restorations every few years. Consulting with your dentist can help you find the best way to restore your smile.

About the Author

Dr. Brent Cline earned his dental degree at Creighton University and has received state-of-the-art training in dental implants, full mouth reconstruction, and wisdom tooth removal. His office in Idaho Falls offers general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry such as dentures. To schedule your consultation for dentures, contact his office online or dial (208) 487-5987.