Thanksgiving Day Denture Tips

As we approach the holidays here in NYC and look forward to small family gatherings around all our favorite Thanksgiving foods, don’t let your dentures get you down.

Already wondering about how you’ll navigate Friendsgiving Zoom calls where your smile will be front and center?

Problems with dentures, like breaks, cracks, and sore spots, can interfere with your merrymaking, but there’s ways to prepare, manage, and avoid these mishaps. Our New York City dental team has prepared this denture care guide to ensure the best experiences possible when it comes to celebrating the holidays with dentures.

How to Prepare

Preventing Sore Spots

If you’ve had dentures for long, you know that pesky little sore spots can pop up when your dentures aren’t in prime shape.

Get organized now and schedule an appointment with us to ensure your dentures are good to go for your Thanksgiving. If there’s ever a time to be diligent about your oral care, it’s when you’re gearing up for the holidays and the good food you’re about to consume.

Don’t let your dentures get in the way of your celebrating.

Ensuring the Proper Fit

The mere mention of Thanksgiving brings food to our minds, but as we gather around tables, talking and laughing are as much a part of the festivities as partaking in big, delicious meals. And we know what can happen when your denture fits poorly and you’re in the middle of sharing a story or your great uncle tells a joke that causes you to burst out in laughter.

If embarrassment from denture slippage doesn’t chase you out of the room, the painful friction that can result may. Don’t let this happen—book an appointment to have your dentures fitted today.

Choosing Safe Foods

Be aware of which foods are hardest on dentures.

Avoiding hard and chewy foods that put stress on your dentures will help to prevent fractures and dislodged teeth. In fact, if your dentures are old or loose, we recommend you schedule a consultation to come in and have them examined and relined before the festivities. Aging and worn-down dentures usually don’t fit or function properly, and having them repaired will lessen the chance that a problem will arise during your Thanksgiving meal.

Foods to Avoid

Regardless of the state of your dentures, it’s best to stay away from hard and sticky foods, such as the following:

• Nuts
• Hard candies
• Sticky puddings
• Dried fruit
• Turkey bones

Meal Tips

Sometimes it’s just too tempting to eat the forbidden foods. We know the feeling. If you find yourself wanting to indulge just a bit, here are a few suggestions for minimizing denture damage.

• Cut your food into smaller bites which will make chewing and breaking the food down easier.
• Chew on both sides of your mouth to spread out the pressure and chewing forces and to reduce stress on one part of the dentures.
• Eat slowly and enjoy every bite.

Dental Emergency

Accidents do happen, and when they do, we strongly urge you to call us and schedule an appointment immediately.

Most repairs can be completed in our office in less than an hour.

Attempting to fix your dentures yourself can lead to more damage which would require more than a quick appointment with us. We strongly urge you to refrain from trying to repair your dentures yourself.

Denture Cases

The secret to caring for your dentures while you’re on the road is your denture case.

Breaking and losing dentures tend to happen more often when we are traveling for the holidays or not in our regular routine at home. When damage happens, cases provide a discreet and safe way to store your denture until you can get it fixed. And when you’re traveling, storing your dentures in a case when you remove them at night will protect them and reduce the risk of losing them. And just to be safe, we recommend you carry your old dentures with you in case of an emergency.

Best wishes from all of us at Herald Square Dental & The Denture Center for a safe and healthy Thanksgiving!