Which Foods Are Hard to Eat With Dentures?

Adjusting to dentures can take some time because they affect the way you look, speak and even eat. If your dentures are fit properly you should be able to eat most foods, but certain foods are more difficult to eat with dentures than others. That being said, with a little practice you should be able to resume your normal diet in time.

Chewing Gum and Sticky Candy

• Avoid chewing gum if you have dentures. Chewing gum is sticky and it may become stuck on your false teeth. Some types of sticky candy such as taffy, may also become stuck to your dentures or be difficult to eat.

Fruits and Vegetables

• Certain crispy fruits and vegetables -- apples, pears and corn -- may be hard to bite when you have dentures because your false teeth are not as sharp as natural teeth. The angle that you bite an apple or pear may cause damage to your denture. Cut or cook crispy fruits and vegetables to help minimize the risk of damage to your dentures.

Meat

• Certain meats, such as red meat, are harder to chew when you wear dentures. Depending on how it is prepared, red meat can be tough. Prepare red meat by stewing it or slow cooking it to make it easier to chew when you have dentures.

Breads and Grains

• Certain breads and grains can also be difficult to chew when you have dentures. Hard crusty breads and rolls used for sandwiches can lead to a break in your dentures because of the texture and angle in which you bite. Hard pretzels can also cause a break for the same reason.