Every Thanksgiving, you get together with your family for a day of football and food. Though Thanksgiving is one of your favorite holidays, you can’t help but wonder how different it will look this year now that you’re wearing dentures. With the holiday fast approaching, it’s essential to know what foods you should pass up to avoid damaging your new smile. To help you easily navigate the Thanksgiving buffet, here are a few common holiday foods to avoid with dentures in Los Alamitos and what you should fill up on instead.
7 Denture-Damaging Foods to Avoid
It may be tempting to pile your plate full of a little bit of everything, but abstaining from some of your favorite foods this Thanksgiving will keep you from causing unnecessary damage to your dentures. A few popular Thanksgiving foods you should avoid this holiday season include:
- Chewy meats
- Candied nuts, pecan pie, and any other foods with nuts
- Cranberry sauce
- Marshmallows and similar sticky foods
- Hard candies like taffy and candy canes
- Corn on the cob or raw, hard fruits and veggies
- Popcorn
8 Denture-Delights to Indulge In
Luckily, there are still plenty of denture-friendly foods to put on your plate. Some of them include:
- Green bean casserole without almonds
- Mashed potatoes or pureed sweet potatoes
- Roasted carrots, broccoli, and other cooked veggies
- Pumpkin pie
- Ice cream
- Tender meats like turkey breast
- Rice
- Pasta or pasta salad
How to Prepare
Choosing the safest foods for your dentures is only half the battle. Consider preparing beforehand and picking foods you know you can eat to ensure there are plenty of holiday delicacies for you to enjoy. You may also want to go see your dentist beforehand so they can conduct a dental exam and adjust your dentures if necessary.
During the Feast
To make it easier to chew with your dentures, cut your food into bitesize pieces. Eat slowly and chew on both sides of your mouth to evenly distribute chewing forces and to reduce stress on any one part of your dentures. Taking the extra time to cut your food into smaller pieces and chewing slowly will make them less likely to slip and allow you to truly savor every bite.
Even with dentures, the holidays are still a time to look forward to. By skipping the pecan pie and loading up on mashed potatoes and other soft foods, you’ll keep your dentures looking their best and still have a fun and delicious Thanksgiving!
About the Practice
Dr. William Poe and his team provide the residents of Los Alamitos, Long Beach, and the surrounding communities with the best dental care around. They offer cosmetic, preventive, and restorative procedures for patients of all ages to enhance smiles and change lives. If you’re missing teeth, they offer a range of replacement options such as dentures to fill out your smile and allow you to enjoy feasting with your family this holiday season. If you’re interested in getting dentures or have questions about what holiday foods you should avoid while wearing them, visit their website or call them at (562) 594-5067.