10 Festive Holiday Recipes You Can Enjoy With Dentures and Implants

Enjoy these holiday recipes for denture wearers this year

If you wear dentures, you have probably dreaded the holidays because of all of the foods you have been unable to enjoy. After all, sticky and chewy candies such as caramel, hard candies such as candy canes, and overly sugary drinks can cause denture damage or oral pain. You also need to avoid gum drops, taffies, cookies, eggnog, peanut brittle, corn on the cob, and many of the delicious pies that are common this time of year. Thankfully, there are some delightful holiday recipes denture wearers, and anybody else, can enjoy.

Denture wearers should not fret, as the Bentz Dental Implant & Prosthodontic Center team has put together a list of 10 of our favorite recipes that are denture-friendly, delicious, and good for you too. And, if you are wondering what you can and can’t eat while you are recovering from implant surgery, you’ll be pleased to know you can enjoy most of these recipes as well.

1. Roast Beef

Every holiday celebration needs a main dish, and roast beef is about as versatile as they come. Delicious and savory for your holiday meal, roast beef can quickly become a delicious leftover for sandwiches the next day. And the secret to a soft roast beef that doesn’t get stuck in your teeth comes from it slowly cooking over a few hours. Check out this holiday roast beef recipe for denture wearers.

2. Apple Pie

Have you ever heard the phrase that you can have your cake and eat it too? Well, that might be true, but if you are a denture wearer or you have implants, certain pies might have been out of the question in the past. But this vegan apple pie recipe is not only good for you but gentle on your implants and dentures.

3. Rice Pudding

If you have dentures or if you are recovering from recent dental implant surgery, then you will be happy to know you can still enjoy rice pudding as a favorite holiday dessert delight. We love this creamy rice pudding recipe because it is easy to chew and has plenty of protein from milk to help you feel satisfied.

4. Buttermilk Panna Cotta with Berries and Vanilla Sabayon

If you love trying new recipes and want something a bit different for a holiday dessert, give this buttermilk panna cotta with berries and vanilla sabayon recipe a try. We think you’ll love this one so much you’ll want to make it for other holidays too. And those who don’t wear dentures or implants will be sure to love it too, no matter when you make it.

5. Homemade Mac and Cheese

Have you ever had mac and cheese as a side dish for the holidays? If not, you are missing out. In our opinion, macaroni and cheese is one of the best comfort foods there is, and we love this homemade macaroni and cheese recipe because it walks you through how to avoid a grainy cheese sauce. A smoother sauce is better for your dentures, as food particles are less likely to get stuck.

6. Sweet Potato Soup

You’ve probably tried sweet potato casserole or sweet potato pie in the past before you got dentures or implants. But have you ever tried sweet potato soup? This creamy sweet potato soup recipe will help you tackle your cravings without wreaking havoc on your mouth.

7. Irish Mashed Potato Casserole

Mashed potatoes tend to be a staple at the holiday table, But mashed potatoes aren’t always a good holiday recipe for denture wearers. Denture and implant wearers can find the dish harder to chew when the potatoes are left with skins on and aren’t thoroughly mashed. But this Irish mashed potato casserole recipe is both delicious and denture safe. Not only that, you can make this recipe ahead of time, too, making it easier for when the holiday arrives.

8. Tuna White Bean Salad

This one may sound a bit weird at first glance. After all, tuna salad isn’t often served at the holiday dinner table. But when you have plenty of turkey and ham leftovers, sometimes it is fun to change up the side dish in the days following the holiday. This tuna white bean salad is protein-packed and easy to chew, making it an excellent holiday recipe for denture wearers.

9. Soft Cheese Appetizer

Every holiday spread needs an appetizer, and soft cheeses are an excellent choice. Put together an assortment of common soft cheeses such as feta, Brie, ricotta, cream cheese, Camembert, Chevre, Roquefort, and gorgonzola. Add a bowl of cottage cheese too and adorn it with some soft fruits such as oranges, tomatoes, peaches, bananas, or mangos. Feel free to add some slices of summer sausage or some sliced ham as an accompaniment.

10. Homemade Ice Cream

We have saved one of our favorite denture-friendly recipes for the end. Not only is this recipe gentle on dentures and easy for those recovering from implant surgery to enjoy, but other guests at the holiday table will love it too. This homemade vanilla ice cream recipe is not only delicious, but it will likely be the easiest homemade ice cream recipe you have ever made.

Rest assured, if you have dental implants, you will soon be able to use them like your natural teeth.

If you have recently made the switch from dentures to implants, you are probably wondering when things in your mouth will get back to normal again. And though the denture-friendly foods we have suggested above are good for dental implant wearers and anyone else who wants to enjoy a tasty recipe this holiday season, we know the waiting period can be a bit challenging. So just be sure to avoid hard candies and very sticky candies, and give these recipes a try. Before you know it, you’ll be able to switch up your diet and cook up some of those tried and true recipes of that past that you once loved.

Interested in getting dental implants so you can thoroughly enjoy your favorite treats this holiday season?

If you feel you are suffering through another holiday season because of poorly-fitting dentures or because you just don’t have enough teeth left in your mouth to enjoy your favorite holiday foods, it might be time to explore dental implant options. The team at Bentz Dental Implant & Prosthodontic Center can help you determine if you are a candidate for dental implants. We can also provide you with recommendations on foods that will be comfortable for you to eat. So if you live in the East Norriton, PA, area, now is the time to request an appointment with our team. We look forward to seeing you.

Best Foods to Eat While Your Mouth Heals from Implant Surgery

Restorative Dental Care

Give your mouth time to heal after your dental implant surgery.

In many ways, getting a dental implant is like restoring your missing tooth. They restore the natural appearance, function, and feeling of your missing tooth because with implant surgery they even restore even your tooth’s root. This gives your new tooth natural, deep-rooted stability and protects against future oral health issues like bone loss in your jaw. This is why dental implants are widely considered to be the best tooth replacement option out there!

However, a huge part of ensuring your dental implant procedure is successful is following your dentist’s advice while you heal from implant surgery. Doing this will help you heal faster and give you the best long-term results possible. After all, your jawbone needs time to heal and grow around the titanium metal rod that replaces your tooth root. Adjusting your diet is one of the biggest ways you can help yourself heal after implant surgery. But what does this entail? To help you understand, we’ve put together a guide on the healing process, including what foods you can eat during it.

Your Diet During the Healing Process

For the first day or two after your procedure, it’s best to follow a largely liquid diet. You’ll experience the most soreness during this period, so it’s wise to put as little pressure on your jaw as possible. It’s a good idea to consume meal replacement drinks, smoothies, soups with soft ingredients, and oatmeal. After this, you can add some soft foods that don’t require much chewing, like a greater variety of soups, potatoes, eggs, and more. You’ll need to stick to this type of food for at least 10 to 14 days.

As time passes, you can slowly add foods that require more chewing, but avoid chewing on the affected side of your mouth and be mindful about how much soreness your meals are causing. You don’t want your diet to increase your healing time! Generally, you should be able to return to your usual diet about a month after your procedure, though you should still be careful about how much or what you chew on the side of your mouth that has received an implant. We understand that sticking to these dietary changes isn’t easy, but there are plenty of delicious foods you can eat that fit the bill!

Smoothies

Smoothies are healthy, delicious, and often pretty filling, so they’re a great meal for the first few days after your dental implant procedure. When you drink your smoothies, however, don’t forget that you shouldn’t use a straw. Straws create suction in your mouth that could do damage to the surgical site in your mouth. Thankfully, though, there are a lot of absolutely delicious smoothies out there! For delicious, healthy fruit smoothies, you can try this mango smoothie or this antioxidant-rich banana-blueberry smoothie. If you want something a little different, this spiced persimmon smoothie is a delicious, nutrient-rich option. It only has six ingredients, all of which are pretty easy to find — even persimmons are stocked in a surprising number of grocery stores these days. Smoothies are pretty versatile, so you can also make a chocolate banana smoothie as a dessert instead of as a main meal.

Soups

If you’re looking for a delicious but filling meal, soups are a great choice with options no matter where in the healing process you are. Plus, they’re the go-to food for when you’re not feeling well, so they’re the perfect recovery food! For the first day or two after your implant surgery, soups like the classic tomato basil soup or roasted butternut squash soup are great options. They’re delicious, healthy, and feel like a genuine meal—all without requiring any chewing! As you begin adding softer foods, you can start eating soups that are a little chunkier. Cheesy potato soup is one of our favorite options, especially because there are so many ways to make it! You can take a little extra time to make it on the stovetop, or you can keep it simple and make it in the crockpot.

Oatmeal

While oatmeal might sound pretty basic, there are a lot of ways you can spice it up to make it interesting and delicious! You can make oatmeal even healthier by adding fruit like blueberries and strawberries and sweetening it to taste, or you can follow a recipe for delicious combinations like brown sugar and banana oatmeal or maple brown sugar oatmeal. These recipes are quick and simple, which is ideal if you’re not feeling up to cooking a huge, complicated meal, but they’re also filling, healthy, and don’t require much chewing! To lessen the amount of chewing you’ll have to do, make sure to cut any fruit relatively small and leave out hard-to-chew ingredients like nuts.

Eggs

Eggs are another great meal that can be a nutritious addition to your menu during the early stages of your healing process. This is mostly because they’re a great source of protein, but they’re soft and don’t require much chewing. Plus, they can be as simple or complex as you want them to be. You can simply scramble some eggs with salt and pepper, then add a little cheddar or Colby Jack cheese if you want to. If you want something that tastes a little different, though, you can make scrambled eggs with extra ingredients like bell peppers and onions. This adds a lot of extra flavor without making it harder to chew, but it’s still incredibly simple and has a quick prep and cook time, which means you’ll still have your meal in front of you in about 10 minutes.

Tuna Salad

This is another easy-to-prepare protein that requires minimal chewing, making it a great choice during your recovery process. If you don’t already have a specific way you like to fix your tuna, there are a lot of great, simple recipes out there that use ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen. You can try out this classic tuna salad recipe or this version that includes chopped hard-boiled eggs and red onions. Even better, tuna fish doesn’t create much of a mess at all! This means you’ll be ready to eat in about 10 minutes without having to worry about washing a ton of dishes when you’re done eating.

Potatoes

Potatoes are a nutritious and delicious food that, when cooked in certain ways, doesn’t require much chewing at all. A loaded baked potato is delicious, simple, and doesn’t take much prep—or create much mess—so it’s a great option when you’re recovering from a procedure. You can also go for a sweet potato, which can be sweet or savory and is full of vitamins and minerals your body needs to heal.

Cinnamon Fried Apples

If you’re in the mood for a dessert other than your basic ice cream or popsicles, fried apples are a great way to go. They’re simple to make and feel healthier than some dessert options because they contain fruit, but the cooking process makes the apples soft and easy to chew. This makes fried apples a great way to use apples you can’t eat while you’re healing but that are already in your kitchen. It’s also a great way to make use of apples that have gone a little mealy. Plus, fried apples are incredibly versatile. They taste delicious on their own, as a side dish during dinner, or alongside vanilla ice cream for dessert.

Healing from implant surgery doesn’t have to be a nutritional drag.

While adjusting your diet during the healing process after getting dental implants doesn’t sound particularly fun, there are plenty of delicious options out there. You may discover new recipes that you love so much you’ll add them to your usual rotation of meals. It’s an opportunity to discover new foods while you heal and regain the use of your missing tooth — and the results for the function and health of your teeth will be worth being careful with your diet for a few weeks! If you have any questions about the implant process or what foods to eat after implant surgery, feel free to schedule a consultation with Dr. Bentz at any time.

What Is a Tooth Root Resorption, and What Can Be Done About It?

Preventive Dental Care

Understanding Tooth Resorption

Many of the terms you hear during your dental visit are familiar, even if you need a little explanation from your dentist to fully understand them or how they impact you. Occasionally, though, your dentist may use a term you’ve never heard before, and that can raise alarm bells in your head. A term like “tooth resorption” can be especially concerning because it’s just descriptive enough to give you a picture of what might be happening with no idea if you’ve got it right or what can be done about it. Thankfully, you don’t have to figure it out on your own! We’re here to help you protect and restore your oral health, and a big part of that is helping you understand conditions like tooth resorption.

If Dr. Bentz has mentioned tooth resorption to you, don’t be afraid to ask him any questions you may have; he’ll be happy to take the time to answer all of them! However, we know that it’s not always easy to come up with questions on the spot, and absorbing a lot of information at once can be difficult. To help with that, we’ve put together a guide you can access any time on tooth resorption and what it may mean for you.

What is tooth resorption?

Much like it sounds, tooth resorption is a condition where your body begins to break down and absorb your tooth. Tooth resorption is split into two types: internal and external tooth resorption. During internal tooth resorption, the tooth begins breaking down from the inside until it’s hollow. The internal structure of your tooth contains the blood vessels and nerves that keep it strong and hydrated, so this weakens your tooth and makes it more vulnerable to injury and decay. External tooth resorption occurs when the protective coating around the outside of your tooth root begins breaking down, making the tooth more vulnerable to decay and infection. It can happen on its own or along with internal tooth resorption.

While tooth resorption sounds like a major process that you’d likely notice, it can be completely symptomless, with no pain or other signs that there’s something wrong until it’s too late. This is particularly true of external tooth resorption. In other cases, though, symptoms can include a toothache, swelling and redness around the gums, an unusually brittle tooth, or a tooth that has turned a distinct, light pink color. Eventually, both types of the condition will lead to tooth loss without treatment, so identifying and treating it early is essential.

What causes it?

Tooth resorption is a natural process in baby teeth, as root resorption makes room for adult teeth to form, but it can happen in adult teeth for a myriad of reasons. The most well-known cause is an injury to the teeth, jaws, or mouth. When an injury like this occurs, it’s normal for your body to mount an immune response, but sometimes the body overreacts and rejects your tooth, identifying it as foreign and attacking it like it would an infection. In this sense, tooth resorption often acts like an autoimmune condition. This reaction can also occur because of an untreated cavity or infection in the tooth or surrounding gums or because of an injury to the periodontal ligament that holds your tooth in your jaw.

In some cases, dentists simply aren’t sure why tooth resorption happens, but there are a few known risk factors. Anything that puts extensive pressure on your teeth for a long time or shifts their position in your jaw can increase your likelihood of experiencing tooth resorption down the road. This includes issues like teeth shifting around after tooth loss and bruxism, which is when you habitually clench or grind your teeth. Additionally, orthodontics and certain tooth bleaching methods can also raise your future risk. That said, the benefits of treatments like orthodontics often far outweigh the risks, so don’t let this discourage you from seeking out orthodontic treatment! Every treatment has pros and cons, so you and Dr. Bentz can always take the time to discuss what those are for you before you decide on any treatment.

What can be done to prevent it?

While tooth resorption sounds complicated and happens beneath the surface where you can’t see it, there are still several ways you can reduce your likelihood of experiencing it. Since dental injuries are such a huge cause of tooth resorption, one of the best things you can do to prevent it is to simply wear a mouth guard during contact sports to prevent injuries to your teeth and gums that a fall or blow to the face could cause. If you do suffer dental trauma or a major blow to your teeth or jaws, it’s also always best to schedule an appointment with Dr. Bentz just in case. Even if a hard blow to your teeth or jaw doesn’t do damage that’s immediately visible, it could have still damaged your tooth roots, so it’s important to get an X-ray to make sure your teeth are OK.

You can get tooth resorption even if you take great care of your teeth, but practicing good oral hygiene is still incredibly important for this issue because it helps prevent cavities and infections of your teeth or gums that could trigger tooth resorption. Visiting your dentist every six months is also an essential part of preventing oral health issues and identifying any problems early. An X-ray is the best way to spot tooth resorption, so a regular dental X-ray during your routine appointment can be the key to getting an early diagnosis that saves your tooth! Additionally, it’s also wise to address bruxism, which can be done using a nightguard, stress management, orthodontics, or Botox treatments. Doing this protects your teeth from injury and will help lower your chances of getting tooth resorption, but the best treatment is different for everyone, so don’t hesitate to ask Dr. Bentz about your options.

Can it be treated? If so, how?

Yes! When root resorption is caught early enough, there are a few ways Dr. Bentz may be able to save your tooth. The first is simply by treating any cavity, infection, or injury that is causing the tooth resorption. In some cases, such as when the condition is progressing slowly and hasn’t done much damage, he may even be able to stop its progression and leave the tooth as it is or reverse some of the damage. Other times, a root canal and dental crown can be instrumental in saving your tooth. Dr. Bentz may perform the root canal on its own or pair it with other treatments to address issues like infections. Tooth resorption does eventually lead to tooth loss, however, so if your tooth is too severely damaged, Dr. Bentz may need to extract it and replace it with a tooth replacement option like a dental implant.

Are there any alternative options?

Everyone’s case is unique, so your treatment options will vary based on details like the severity and cause of your condition. Dr. Bentz will be able to walk you through all of your options, explaining each and giving you any recommendations he may have. If you lose your tooth due to tooth resorption, modern dentistry ensures that you still have plenty of options for tooth replacement! Dental implants are generally seen as the best tooth replacement option out there, but you can also choose a bridge or partial dentures.

Will it happen again?

Tooth resorption isn’t a common occurrence, and there’s no evidence that having had tooth resorption once makes you any more or less likely to get it again. This means it’s not more likely, but it’s also not impossible. Just like any other oral health issue, the key to ensuring it doesn’t happen again is to take preventive measures. This means building tooth-healthy habits like wearing a mouth guard during sports, practicing great oral hygiene, and talking to Dr. Bentz about addressing issues like bruxism. You should also make sure you visit Dr. Bentz every six months for your regular dental evaluation, as keeping up-to-date with these appointments is a huge part of catching tooth resorption and other oral health issues early — plus treating the issue is much easier. These habits are simple and don’t take a lot of time out of your day, but they could save your teeth!

Have a few questions? Reach out to the Bentz dental team for help!

Just like any oral health issue that can lead to tooth loss, tooth resorption shouldn’t be taken lightly — but it isn’t a guarantee that you’ll lose your tooth. Identifying and treating it quickly could save your tooth, so it’s important to visit your dentist regularly and know what to look for at home. If you’d like to learn more about tooth resorption or what treatment options might be right for you, feel free to schedule a consultation with Dr. Bentz at any time.

The Science Behind Handwashing and Preventing Illness

Self-care

Why Handwashing Keeps Us Healthy

Our hands allow us to explore and interact with the world around us. Unfortunately, this means that our hands are often the first point of contact when touching contaminated surfaces. The average person can touch nearly 300 different surfaces in just half an hour. This, coupled with frequently touching our faces, can make it easy for germs to move around our bodies and transmit illness.

The best way to prevent germs from spreading illness or disease is through frequent, thorough handwashing, especially when interacting with potentially contaminated surfaces. Proper handwashing physically removes over 99% of germs, and handwashing alone can reduce bacterial and viral illness by 20 to 50%.

Science supports that one of the single most impactful things someone can do to protect their health and the health of those around them is to follow effective handwashing habits.

The Most Effective Handwashing Habits

Effective handwashing isn’t a matter of overwashing your hands or constantly cleaning them, but rather paying special attention to key moments when hands are likely contaminated. You also need to be mindful of washing your hands thoroughly and long enough for germs to be removed.

The two most important times to wash your hands are after using the bathroom and before eating. A simple trip to the restroom can double the number of germs on your hands. Foodborne illness is also a common health problem that can be prevented by as much as 50% with just handwashing.

Some other important times to wash your hands include:

Before and after caring for someone who is sick or injured
After playing with, feeding, or cleaning up after a pet
Before, during, and after cooking or meal prepping
After sneezing, coughing, rubbing your nose, etc.
After handling waste, recycling, and garbage bins

When you do wash your hands, follow these 5 steps:

Get your hands completely wet.
Apply soap all over your hands.
Lather and scrub very thoroughly for 20 seconds.
Rinse with clean, running water.
Dry with a clean towel or air dryer.

Handwashing and hand sanitizer are a team.

While a 60% or more alcohol-based hand sanitizer kills many different strains of bacteria and viruses, it doesn’t remove them or eliminate all varieties. Because of this, it’s best to see hand sanitizer as an easy way to sanitize on the go, but not a direct replacement for handwashing.

For example, after running errands, it’s a good idea to wash your hands thoroughly when you can, even if you used hand sanitizer while out. It’s especially important to wash rather than sanitize before eating a meal or after using the bathroom.

The Bentz Dental Implant & Prosthodontic Center provides a healthy, hygienic environment for patients.

Your health is our main priority, and we don’t just mean your oral health! Dr. Bentz and the team go above and beyond to maintain a sanitary and hygienic environment for patients. This includes keeping our facility very clean, following CDC protocol for sanitization, and screening patients to ensure everyone who visits is healthy.

For more information, give our office a call or use this online form.

December 2021