Dentures Wearer Can Still Eat Their Fruits and Vegetables

In the past, researchers have reported an inverse relationship between wearing dentures and eating significantly fruits and vegetables. Also reported has been the significantly less chewing efficiency that denture wearers have when compared to individuals with their natural teeth. Recently, it has been reported that wearing dentures and consuming less fruits and vegetables may not be correlated at all. Investigators from Newcastle University (U.K.) have performed a study, that has been reported in the Journal of Dental Research (August, 2008), using two population groups; those with their nature teeth and those wearing dentures. The study subjects that had their natural teeth did not consume more fruits and vegetables, however did drink more vegetable and fruit juices. Denture wearers were older and were apt to be retired, and have a lower education level. These covariates should be taken into account when performing additional studies. The two groups should be matched for age, being employed, and education level before definite conclusions can be drawn from this study. Both, this study and past studies, have concluded that knowledge and thoughts about healthy eating had a more profound effect on eating fruits and vegetables than just wearing dentures. These attitudes must be address. More research is required in this area.