Of course, with any dental pain or problem, a dentist should be consulted. But in the interim, whether a bridge needs to be re-cemented back in, waiting for the discomfort of a root canal to subside, or if tightened braces are ruining the day, a filling (and somewhat healthy) diet can be adhered to.
If it can be blended, it can be eaten. It is quite possible to consume all of the food groups through a soft diet. (The term diet can be misleading. Eating soft food does not guarantee consumption of fewer calories. Continue to check labels on packaged foods for calories, sodium content, cholesterol, and other items to be eaten in moderation, if there is apprehension.)
Breakfast
As the most important meal of the day, breakfast has the honor of starting out sweeter than the other meals. Smoothies are a quick, easy, healthy way to start the morning. And no teeth are necessary. If dental issues include sensitivity to cold this may not be the answer, but in many situations a smoothie is just what the dentist ordered.
Begin with a favorite juice mixed with fresh or frozen fruit, add some ice, and blend until smooth. For a more "chewy" smoothie, yogurt or kefir can be used for the base. The latter two would also ensure some "friendly bacteria" in the diet.
Oatmeal can be a good breakfast if chewing is difficult. Oatmeal, eaten on a regular basis, has been proven to lower cholesterol. A tablespoon of flax seed could help, as well, and can be added to a bowl of oatmeal or a smoothie.
Lunch
Mashed potatoes, any of the white varieties or sweet, are a tasty base for many other flavors and additions. Mashed potatoes with chorizo don’t need the benefit of chewing to offer a filling meal. Even more authentic chorizo that is chunkier than paste-like versions that are store-bought can be thrown in a blender in order to be mixed with the potatoes and be easier to eat.
Vegetables of choice can be blended with vegetable juice or water. Blended to the consistency of baby food, meals can still be enjoyed.
For dessert or snack between meals, applesauce, pudding, or yogurt can be added for a sweet touch.
Dinner
To continue the semi-Hispanic theme, tamales can be a perfect meal to be blended. Not only does the masa make a good outer covering for the meat inside, it is just as tasty when mixed with the meat filling and vegetable juice or broth. And refried beans are already fairly soft. The more pulverized the beans, the easier to eat without actually chewing. (Beware of gooey cheese. Melted cream cheese or sour cream mixes well with either the tamales or beans.)
Chunky soups can be blended to the desired consistency by mixing with liquid of choice. A thicker soup can give more of a feeling of eating “real” food. If heat bothers the teeth, recipes can be adjusted.
For dessert, milk shakes or malts are all-time favorites. (Again, eating soft doesn’t mean eating low cal.) A cupcake smashed up in a bowl of ice cream is delicious. (Brownies can tend to be too dense and there is the chance of actual chewing without thinking.)
On the Dental Mend
Once the affected teeth are fixed and eating is back to normal, a twist on these recipes can still be enjoyed. No longer will the blender be necessary but, for future reference, there is no worry about not being able to enjoy eating when having dental problems.
Kathleen Klein - Kate Klein writes on subjects of diverse interest with particular focus on family and other intimate relationships, Martin Luther King, ...
