There are lots of little ways you can help your parent adjust. Try cutting their meals into small pieces or cooking softer foods.

Advise them to use both sides of their mouth at the same time while they chew, so their dentures don’t wiggle. Tell them not to chew with the front of her teeth, which will tip the dentures. Instead of tough red meats, opt for softer proteins such as poultry, fish, eggs, and legumes. Avoid small nuts that have a way of getting underneath the dentures and causing discomfort (such as peanuts and almonds).

Chewing with dentures is challenging at first. That’s totally normal. A little practice with the new set of teeth is all your parent needs. Eventually, they should be able to eat the same foods they did before. They might just have to chew slower than they used to.

Unfortunately, hard and sticky foods may still be trickier to eat, even over the long term. A little patience and preparation go a long way when planning your meals. The other option is denture adhesives, which may not be necessary, but could give your parent more confidence that the dentures will stay in place while they eat.

If problems with chewing persist or worsen, check with your dentist to make sure the dentures fit properly. The fit of the dentures could be making chewing more difficult.

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