Dentures have allowed many patients to restore their smiles after tooth loss, which can give them the confidence they need to grin proudly, make excellent first impressions, and engage socially. However, you may not be aware of how dentures can benefit you nutritionally. Here’s a brief guide to how traditional dentures can help you enjoy a healthier and more varied diet and how implant dentures can restore even more of your chewing ability.
How Does Tooth Loss Affect Nutrition?
The teeth play a crucial role in the digestive process by ripping, shredding, and grinding food into a soft pulp that can be digested easily, and the loss of even one can significantly alter a person’s ability to chew. Tooth loss redistributes the pressure of chewing among the remaining teeth, which can wear them down faster and lead to further tooth loss. If enough teeth are destroyed, the patient may have difficulty chewing tough and crunchy foods like nuts, fresh meat, and raw fruits and veggies.
How Can Traditional Dentures Improve My Nutrition?
Traditional dentures can restore twenty percent or more of a patient’s original chewing power, which can allow them to enjoy a wide variety of foods that would be impossible to eat with too many missing teeth. However, these restorations will lose their fit over time, which can make it difficult for them to pulverize tougher foods like steak properly. Many patients address this by cutting their food into small pieces or using marinades, sauces, or gravy to soften it.
How Can Implant Dentures Improve My Nutrition?
Implant dentures are secured with two or more titanium posts surgically placed in the jaw structure and fused with their surrounding bone tissue through the natural process of osseointegration. This gives them the sturdy hold they need to handle all sorts of tough foods like steaks and corn on the cob while stimulating the jawbone to keep it healthy and strong. Preserving the jaw like this can allow a denture to fit properly for much longer, which can save the patient thousands of dollars in replacement appliances.
Don’t let tooth loss lead to overall health problems like malnutrition and indigestion. Consulting with your dentist can help you find out which tooth replacement method can be best for you.
About the Author
Dr. Racha W. Kadamani earned her dental degree at the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry and has practiced in her field for more than eighteen years. She is proud to be a member of the American Dental Association and the Texas Dental Association. Her office in San Antonio offers general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry as well as denture services. To learn more about how dentures can enhance your nutrition, contact her office online or dial (210) 782-6842.
