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Eating Without Teeth or Dentures – What You Need to Know

the dangers of eating without teeth or dentures

Eating Without Teeth or Dentures – What You Need to Know

June 28, 2017 Common Dental Issues & Procedures, Implant Dentistry, Oral Health = Whole Body Health, Uncategorized
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If you’ve lost teeth and have not replaced them with dental implants, or if you have difficulty applying dentures, it can be tempting to try and eat without them. Over time, you might even become good at it. While this approach may seem convenient, eating without teeth or dentures can be dangerous to the mouth and the rest of your body. Before you or someone you know has their next meal without teeth, consider these health risks that can occur as a result.

Gum and Jaw Issues

When you try to chew without teeth, your gums and jaws have to work even harder to ensure that food is chewed enough to swallow.

The bite force of natural teeth is around 200-250 pounds of force, while the force of dentures is about 50 pounds. This means dentures are much less powerful than original teeth, but this is definitely a case where something is better than nothing.

Over time, your teeth and gums will become sore and irritated from having to work extra hard to properly process food, even softer foods that do not appear to require a lot of chewing. This can lead to more serious problems like TMJ and infected gums.

The jawbone is also in a constant state of flux and changes in response to pressure placed on it from teeth or dentures. Without this pressure, the bone becomes weakened over time and is more prone to fractures.

Sure, there are a lot of recipes out there for smoothies, purees, and other foods that claim to be safe to eat without teeth. This is technically true, but this diet is only intended to be followed for short periods of time such as the period between when natural teeth are extracted and when dentures are ready.

Gastrointestinal Problems

Digestive issues from Eating Without Teeth or Dentures - 1st Family DentalDigestion is a complex, multi-organ process where all of the pieces must fall into place for it to work as planned. The entire process begins in the mouth, and throwing a wrench into the system by not properly chewing food can lead to problems later on down the line in the digestive tract.

When food is not well chewed and the food fragments are too big to be properly broken down, incomplete digestion occurs. Not only do nutrients not get extracted from the food but undigested food also becomes fodder for bacteria in the colon. This can lead to bacterial growth, flatulence, and other symptoms of indigestion.

Eating a diet composed of foods that have already been processed enough to not require chewing is not much better as your body does not have the opportunity to absorb nutrients through the chewing process.

Chewing is also directly connected with the movement of food through your digestive tract, and, in particular, with the movement of food from your stomach to your small intestine. Saliva from the chewing process help relax the pylorus, a small muscle at the lower end of the stomach, enough to allow food to pass into the small intestine and through your digestive tract.

The process of chewing also signals the rest of the gastrointestinal system that the digestive process can begin. It stimulates the taste receptors in the mouth, which relay messages to the stomach to start producing acid to aid with digestion once food reaches it. It also signals the pancreas to begin producing enzymes that are passed into the small intestine to aid with digestion there.

What Can You Do?

Eating without teeth or dentures can cause serious short and long term problems. Teeth play an important role in your body and trying to live without them is not a great long term plan. There are many reasons why you or someone in your life may be trying to get by eating without teeth or dentures. Whether it’s due to finances, embarrassment and shame, or something else, whatever the reason, 1st Family Dental can help come up with a plan that fits your situation to help you get back on track. We’ve treated thousands of patients and have seen it all so don’t let fear hold you back. Our caring and compassionate staff will work with you to get you chewing properly again and enjoying all your favorite foods. 

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44 Comments

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  • Anonymous
    · Reply

    November 1, 2018 at 11:59 PM

    Had xrays done which showed extreme bone loss in gums.Now what?

  • Bob McWilliams
    · Reply

    October 24, 2018 at 4:13 AM

    Have they made a guard to set over the teeth so that older folks that have problems with food getting between teeth (older folks teeth separate with age). I’m a big jerky eater but my gums get so sore when the meat fragments get between my teeth and even compact between them with the force of chewing tough jerky. It’s near impossible to get out even with floss and hydro jet spraying begeen the teeth) I’m not ready to give that up yet!!! Thank you

  • Rachel
    · Reply

    October 10, 2018 at 12:59 PM

    My dad underwent cancer surgery of the gum this June. His entire right side upper jaw was removed. He’s being fed through the rice tube ever since. Since there is no bone…. Its a kind of hollow….. If he swallow anything orally…. It enters the sinus and comes out of the nose. The dentist gave him a palette but it wouldn’t fix from one side as there is nothing to attach it to. He got two more palettes made but it moves from its place. Please let me know what can be done to fix the palette permanently.

  • Rachel
    · Reply

    October 10, 2018 at 12:53 PM

    How does my dad start eating again?

  • vikas
    · Reply

    October 4, 2018 at 12:17 AM

    can a dibtic patient have dental implant

  • Anonymous
    · Reply

    September 16, 2018 at 8:04 AM

    I have dental implants. My only income is Social Security. I can’t afford to pay for dentures. I went to a Dentist who wants $3,900.00 for dentures. I live in Tampa, Florida. I don’t own a car. I depend on public transportation.

  • Anonymous
    · Reply

    August 25, 2018 at 5:25 PM

    The dentist siad i will be with no teeth for 3 months

  • John Sanders
    · Reply

    August 16, 2018 at 11:41 PM

    I haven’t had any dentures for 6 years, I have no upper teeth and only 6 bottom teeth. I have been eating just fine but recently started having bleeding from my gums and mouth.

  • barbbill
    · Reply

    August 5, 2018 at 5:58 PM

    my husband has not had teeth for over 8 years because we coulx not aford dentures . but mow we can but everyone says its to late so my question is .can he still get dentures after 8 years
    thank you

  • Terrie Copeland
    · Reply

    July 25, 2018 at 2:23 PM

    I agree I agree with the dentist. My mom doesn’t use her dentures and since has digestive issues leading to a tumor in her colon that was cancerous and had to be removed. Y’all should go back and read this again with an open mind for your sake. Mama says her dentures don’t allow her to taste her food as well but it’s all just excuses. It’s her quality of life & decision but the care takers suffer too. Especially when they can’t help you because you’re stubborn and closed minded. Sorry, I’m just outdone today is the reason I googled this to start with. I’m so tired.

  • Sue
    · Reply

    July 11, 2018 at 4:51 PM

    I had my top teeth taken out 22 yrs ago, when I go out to a restaurant and I wear them, can eat fine. Just Monday I had my 9 remaining bottom teeth removed due to periods disease.
    I’m waiting for everything to heal which takes about 8 months. You get a better fit.
    I hope ill be able to eat okay with no teeth for awhile.
    I have a dear friends who hasn’t had a tooth for many years and she gets along fine.
    I admire her so much, she smiles and laughs at work, I hope I can do as well as she does.
    She tells me, you’ll do okay, don’t worry about what people say or think.
    I’m trying, I hope I can live up to her words.

  • Dee
    · Reply

    July 10, 2018 at 3:08 PM

    I have been without teeth for over 4 yrs now. I have no problem eating food at all. I have dentures. But i just cannot eat with them i choke and gag. Just cant do it. I wish i could afford a lighter weight denture. Maybe that would be better.

  • Sheila Gregory
    · Reply

    July 3, 2018 at 12:02 PM

    My husband and I can not afford to buy me any dentures and now I have pain in my gums along with a headache. I’m too sick to work. I have a lot of health issues. Please help me, please.

  • Stephen
    · Reply

    June 24, 2018 at 8:04 PM

    I had a severe allergic reaction to an antibiotic I took for a sinus infection. I was hospitalized and the doctors told my wife that it wasn’t my sinuses but my teeth. Wrong, my teeth were perfectly fine. My wife is mentally ill and when the doctors told her I could die from my “bad” teeth she gave them permission to pull them. They pulled 22 healthy teeth. I awoke three days later from the drugs and discovered I had 6 teeth left. Three on each side on the bottom(better to hold a partial denture). I’ve had PTSD since a I was a small child(abusive parents). Pulling my teeth put me into a tailspin that almost culminated in suicide. I finally recovered enough emotionally to move on. It took 6 years. I can’t wear my dentures and implants are too expensive. This happened 10 years ago. I chop up my food into very small pieces. My gums still hurt but I can eat good enough. To everyone out there without teeth you can get by. Be persistent and don’t give up. Good luck to everyone.

  • Janie
    · Reply

    June 15, 2018 at 4:12 PM

    My husband has dentures he dosnt use them becuase they are not comfortable and he eats with out teeth verywell. Also when he talks sometimes we dont understand what he is saying. could that becuase he has no teeth. Janie.

  • Paula
    · Reply

    June 11, 2018 at 2:25 PM

    I had my teeth pulled on Feb14 2018 and as of today I am still waiting for my dentures to be finished. I am close to the final fitting. However, I cannot stand and I am losing weight and mucle like crazy. I can’t even walk myself to the bathroom. I basically eat soup mashed potatoes and mac and cheese. Tried protein drinks for a while but they went right through me. Any suggestions???

    • Sue
      · Reply

      June 17, 2018 at 7:04 PM

      I have the opposite problem Im gaining weight cause I cant get full eating mush so I started eating sandwiches crust off, tuna egg salad its working my weight is going back down, Im eating hotdogs and burgers, oatmeal cereal good filler too and pasta cook it a bit longer to soften. small bites and eat slower I always have fork and knife to cut things small, I have a 4 week left waiting for dentures they say longer the wait better the fit, Im on 8 weeks now. Just praying for a good fit.

    • Dee
      · Reply

      July 10, 2018 at 3:02 PM

      Start eating regular food. Chew slowly.

    • Melyssa
      · Reply

      August 6, 2018 at 10:36 AM

      Just had mine pulled and waiting for my gums to heal. I will not even get a fitting for dentures till November. I have been eating spinach and mashed banana. That seems to help alot with loose stool.

      • Catherine
        · Reply

        August 19, 2018 at 4:26 PM

        Hi Melyssa,
        I just had 17 extracted 4 days ago. God they hurt!
        What has been the best pain management for you?
        Food? I am going to stretch time between healing and denture impressions as long as I can. From what I’ve read its the smart thing to do. Who cares what others think. Our dentures will be with us until the day we die. Hope you are progressing and your pain is manageable!
        ~Catherine~

  • Rock
    · Reply

    June 6, 2018 at 7:26 PM

    How can I eat with dentures that hurts so bad

  • Dan Harp
    · Reply

    June 4, 2018 at 12:00 AM

    I recently got both top and bottom dentures. I had really bad tori removed by a local outreach dentistry and top was casted after removal of said tori. The bottom was casted before tori was removed and they’ve been adjusting the bottom denture after the fact. The bottom plate moves around when I talk, try to chew or just opening mouth it will move. Should I ask for another impression be made for the bottom?

  • Dee
    · Reply

    June 3, 2018 at 8:11 AM

    I had my last remaining teeth removed, and have been eating without teeth for over 12 years. No issues at all. My dentures fit well, but the foreign bodies in my mouth make eating unpleasant. I eat soft foods and soups. I know this is not the answer a dentist wants to hear, but a person can adjust to a very special diet and survive just fine.

  • John Donoghue
    · Reply

    May 27, 2018 at 8:10 AM

    Just had remaining 13 teeth removed 6 weeks ago I have a great dentist but even so I am unable to eat with my dentures Getting stomach cramps every day and I am beginning to think it may be because the food I manage to eat is not being properly digested Top denture is fairly comfortable, bottom one, less so… even talking or on rare occasions , smiling, loosens the bottom denture bottom implants too expensive. Does the permanent liner (Next week), help with comfort and will it make the denture a bit more secure

  • Linda
    · Reply

    May 26, 2018 at 9:55 PM

    I can’t wear my dentures my gums are sore I can fill something on my gums like a sore in really tender when trying to eat salt gets in it stings what could it be

  • Dianne Mundy
    · Reply

    May 18, 2018 at 4:55 PM

    Hi, I have had dentures both top and bottom for at least 5 years but I can’t eat with them in as they don’t stay properly affixed with Polident Super paste. I am on ODSP so I am only covered for a certain amount of money. Any idea what I can do because I am having issues with my stomach and digesting and can’t really eat healthy food.

  • rochelle
    · Reply

    May 1, 2018 at 2:09 PM

    IVE been eating without my denture for a while now caause my dentist i dont think did a good job makeing my denture or it would have fit with the gels or teeth holders stickys stuff but ive tryed them none work or hold my teeth they ont sstay in bottom or tops what can i do is it too late too get them reline its beena year

  • Sheryl
    · Reply

    April 9, 2018 at 7:53 PM

    I just had a lower molar extracted, I have a wisdom tooth a space and another molar on that side I do not have lower back teeth on the left side. The dentist told me today I am not a candidate for implants or partials….how do I chew, is soup my life now?

    • Randy
      · Reply

      August 8, 2018 at 5:31 AM

      In my 20s I had to have all of the lower back teeth on my right side pulled due to a nasty infection. At the time I had no dental insurance and so anything to replace them was out of the question. I can say that once everything healed and my gums toughened up a bit I really had no problem eating whatever I wanted, though crunchy things like chips were painful on the gums so I had to adjust to chewing them more forward in my mouth. Missing teeth certainly isn’t optimal, but it’s livable, and having any teeth is preferable to none at all.

  • Maureen
    · Reply

    March 25, 2018 at 3:48 AM

    Why are my gums so sore with no teeth

  • Carol
    · Reply

    March 24, 2018 at 9:50 PM

    I I had all my top teeth pulled. Then about 19 months after that, I got a top plate made. I can’t wear them because I feel like there is still bones or part of the teeth in my gums so they don’t fit properly and it causes me to gag,and not be able to open mouth enough to talk

  • Patrice Island
    · Reply

    March 7, 2018 at 7:18 PM

    Hello i have not had dentures for 5 years. I had gone in for the fitting. The dentist saw ruffness and some white blotches. So she is sending me to a specialist. I have eaten food without dentures. The dentist is mean. My daughter ran out cause she doesnt feel right please text me pat and jamie

  • Jean Stevens
    · Reply

    February 19, 2018 at 9:37 AM

    I have my bottom teeth, but all my tops were pulled about 6 years ago! When I get up in the morning my top gums are so sore like my bottom teeth are pushed in the gum as I sleep! I have had three sets of top teeth made but can not wear them because my gag reflex is so bad! I have no dental insurance what would you recommend to protect my top gums while sleeping

    • Rene
      · Reply

      May 15, 2018 at 9:51 PM

      I would try a mouth guard. I’ve seen them online. Some are pre-formed and others you take an impression of your teeth, send it back to the company and they send you your customized mouth guard in the mail.

    • Jim
      · Reply

      October 17, 2018 at 7:41 PM

      Wear the bottom part of one of those teeth protectors like football players wear.

  • julie howard
    · Reply

    February 5, 2018 at 2:11 PM

    I don’t have any teeth and I was told that I cant get any and my gums hurt and other stuff

  • Eric
    · Reply

    February 2, 2018 at 1:09 AM

    I had my teeth removed about 4 5 years ago n I have never wore my dentures cause I didn’t like the way they felt in my mouth I was wondering if maybe inplants would be better n if I can still get them after waiting so long after I got my teeth removed

  • Maria Giametta
    · Reply

    November 2, 2017 at 11:20 PM

    I have dentures for ten years but suffered a stroke and now my dentures don’t fit right….I am upset cause I am having problems putting my dentures back in my mouth due to nerve issues from the stroke. I want to get new dentures but I was told to get ones that I can screw in my mouth cause my old dentures don’t stay put, even with the dentures paste…I don’t know what to do in this case

    • 1st Family Dental
      · Reply

      November 3, 2017 at 7:04 AM

      Maria, sorry to hear about your stroke. It sounds like overdentures were recommended; you can read more about overdentures here: https://ffdblog.wpengine.com/resource-library/implant-dentistry/overdentures-fixed-dental-implant-bridges/ If you’re considering this option then the next step would be to book a free consultation at one of our offices. We look forward to seeing you!

  • mary DiOrio
    · Reply

    October 22, 2017 at 5:35 PM

    I have no teeth except for 6 front lower teeth.
    I have no money. How much are imolants? Are they even possible after 10 yrs no teeth? Can they be paid off in installments?

    • 1st Family Dental
      · Reply

      October 23, 2017 at 6:36 AM

      Thanks for the question, Mary. Since you haven’t had teeth for 10 years then our dentist would want to do a thorough evaluation to determine if implants are a good option for you. The good news is that this is done at no charge at your free consultation. At the free consultation our team will also discuss your tooth replacement options in order to maximize your wants/needs and budget, and they will discuss any financing options that may be available. The next step is to schedule your free consultation. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help. Thank you, Vicky K. (Director of Marketing)

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    July 5, 2017 at 6:16 AM

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  • Linda
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    July 2, 2017 at 7:32 AM

    Great article

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