As a tried-and-true solution for your missing teeth, you may feel much more confident in your modern dentures. They are great at restoring your smile, but they may not be the best at helping you get the nutrients you need. While they do give you your bite back, they don’t give you the full power you once had. Keep reading to learn why this is the case and what you can do about it.
How Do My Dentures Affect My Nutrition?
According to recent research, those who have worn dentures for two years or more have lower nutrition compared to how they were beforehand. That’s because this prosthetic doesn’t fully restore your original bite force. Full dentures only offer about 20% to 25%, while partials only give back 15% to 20%.
This can make it more difficult to bite and chew through foods. Without breaking them down, you are more likely to swallow bigger chunks, which is harder for your body to fully absorb vitamins and minerals. Not only that, but the fit of your dentures will also change over time. You may find them slipping more often while you are eating, making it harder to have a balanced diet.
Does This Have an Impact on My Health?
In short, this has a big impact on your overall health! When you are deficient in the essential nutrients you need, you may feel more fatigued than normal or be at a higher risk for anxiety and depression. You might experience general weakness, cracked lips, or a swollen tongue (which are common when you are low on iron).
What Can I Do to Get the Nutrients I Need?
The good news is that there is a solution to help you have an easier time eating! You can have your dentures attached to dental implants! These are posts that are placed and fused directly into your jawbone. They use your jaw to help give them incredible stability and reliability. Since they don’t sit on your gums, you can feel confident that nothing will slip out of place.
With 70% or more of your original bite force, you can enjoy a wider variety of foods. That being said, it’s a possibility that you aren’t a good candidate right away. Some people may not have enough jawbone density and need a bone graft to reinforce it. Or you can consider all-on-4 dental implants, as they are placed in naturally thick areas. It just depends on your oral health, but a consultation with your dentist can help you find out your eligibility!
About the Author
Dr. Robert Fromuth earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is happy to help those in the Manchester community have confident smiles again by replacing missing teeth through treatments like dentures, dental implants, or both! Dr. Fromuth works with local implant specialists to ensure you get the best care that you deserve with natural-looking results. If your dentures keep slipping when you eat, schedule an appointment or call his office at (603) 644-3368.