Eating With New Dentures: A Week-by-Week Guide

Eating with new dentures takes practice. Most people start with soft foods cut into small pieces, chew slowly on both sides at once, and work up to a normal diet over a few weeks. Here’s a step-by-step plan.

The first few days: soft and simple

• Yogurt, smoothies, soups and broths
• Mashed potatoes, oatmeal, scrambled eggs
• Soft fish, beans and well-cooked vegetables

If you’ve just had teeth extracted, follow your dentist’s instructions on avoiding hot drinks and straws in the first day or two.

Weeks one to three: build up gradually

• Cut food into small pieces. Smaller bites need less force.
• Chew on both sides at the same time. This keeps a full denture balanced.
• Bite with your side teeth, not your front teeth. Biting into a sandwich or apple with the front teeth tips dentures up at the back.
• Take your time. Your cheeks and tongue are learning to help hold the denture.

Foods to be careful with

• Sticky foods such as caramel and some gums
• Hard foods like nuts, hard candy and crusty bread
• Tough meats (cut them very small)
• Small seeds that get trapped under the denture

Sore spots

Sore spots are common in the first weeks. If one doesn’t improve within a few days, see your dentist for an adjustment rather than putting up with it. If you had your dentures made in Mexico, stay a day or two after delivery so the clinic can fix sore spots before you go home.

When eating stays difficult

Lower dentures in particular can be hard to eat with. If you’ve given it a few months and still struggle, implant-supported options make a big difference to chewing. See our guides to snap-in dentures and All-on-4.