Denture wearers at risk of malnutrition Smile Store

Limited diet forced by dentures can rob people of healthy foods they find too difficult to chew.

Researchers at King’s College found denture wearers and people with major tooth loss tend to avoid foods they find too hard to eat, resulting in a lack of nutrition; increased muscle and joint frailty, and risk of bone breakage.

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“Persons with inadequate dentition are less likely to eat hard food that is difficult to chew, for example, some of the fresh fruits and vegetables, apples, pears, carrots, nuts etc,” said Dr Wael Sabbah, from King’s College London Dental Institute.

The study examined the health of more than 1,800 people who had an average age of 62, and were categorised into three groups; having at least 20 teeth, denture wearers with fewer than 20 teeth, and people and non-denture wearers with fewer than 20 teeth.

Denture wearers and those with fewer teeth were 32 per cent more likely to be frail and 20 per cent more likely to be nutritionally deficient.

Limited food choices

Most people are aware a balanced diet, rich in fresh vegetables, fruit and protein is key to maintaining good health, but people with traditional dentures struggle with foods they find challenging to chew or bite into.

Here at Smile Store ­- Your Local Dental Specialists, we hear from patients every day who have grown tired struggling with loose and uncomfortable dentures as they discover the inevitable truth: Dentures invariably get loose as the gums they sit on change shape and recede.

Traditional dentures, no matter how well-fitting at first, begin to shift around in the mouth. They can become very uncomfortable; making it impossible to tackle many foods and limiting wearers to a soft diet. People grow fearful of eating in public in case the dentures pop out.

Dental implants solve problem

Implant-retained dentures look; feel and function like natural teeth, restoring quality of life and food choices.

A dental implant is a titanium post that acts as an artificial tooth root. It is placed through the gum into the jaw, where it fuses with your own bone to become part of the jaw itself.

Dentures can then be affixed on top, with an easy-click attachment that offers complete security and functionality to the wearer.

Dental implants are the ideal replacement for one, some or all missing teeth, and treatment is entirely customised to each person for a beautiful, healthy smile.

To find out more, call us at 021 432 0004. You deserve to be well, and Smile Store ­- Your Local Dental Specialists are here to help.