People have been completing their smiles with dentures for decades now. They are a reliable and durable solution for missing teeth. Additionally, current times have made them more natural looking and functional than ever. However, many people have found that they have to limit their diet while wearing their prosthetics, which can impact their overall health. Read on to learn the connection between dentures and nutritional health…and a possible solution for a healthy smile and body!
The Link Between Dentures & Nutrition
To truly have optimal health, it is essential to eat a wide range of highly nutritious, vitamin-rich foods. These choices will include fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products, whole grains, and meats. However, many people who wear dentures find many of these foods difficult to enjoy.
Research from Regenstrief Institute and Indiana University School of Dentistry discovered that denture wearers are more likely to be restricted in the meals they can choose to eat. Furthermore, among the 10,000 Indiana patients, the people with prosthetics experienced a gradual decline in their nutritional health over the two years of the study. On the contrary, those who were denture-free did not experience any decline in their nutritional health at all.
What Causes Nutritional Loss While Wearing Dentures?
While dentures help you regain the self-confidence that comes with a complete set of pearly whites, it only helps you regain about 25-30% of your bite power. As a result, it makes it more difficult to eat certain foods, such as chewy or sticky items. Certain foods, like tougher meats or crisp apples, can make their prosthetic slip out of place. Eventually, many patients find it easier just not to eat these foods, cutting out essential protein, fiber, and vitamins. Furthermore, it can end up being more convenient to eat softer foods that are less nutrient-dense, like white bread and ice cream. This not only puts your physical health at risk but can cause oral health issues eventually.
How Dental Implants Can Improve Your Diet
Rather than trying to figure out a new diet as you are having to cut out certain nutritional foods, you may want to consider switching to a more secure tooth loss solution: dental implants! They are the most reliable, long-lasting, and functional tooth replacements. The biocompatible steel posts are inserted into your jaw, eventually becoming fully integrated with it. This allows for unparalleled stability! Your new pearly whites will never move; therefore, you can eat a wide range of nutrient-dense foods.
While dentures have long been a way to replace missing teeth, they can eventually negatively impact your overall well-being by having a more limited diet. By considering completing your smile with dental implants, your new set of teeth will allow you to keep not only your oral health strong and healthy but your body too!
About the Practice
Temple Choice Dental is eager to help you keep your smile—and your overall health—in top condition through the expertise of its team of dentists. With a focus on providing world-class dental care, they use state-of-the-art dentistry combined with excellent customer service. They offer a wide range of services, including full, partial, and implant dentures. To schedule an appointment, contact them through their website or call (254) 727-7144.