Mouth and feeding problems

Often, dental problems, sores or alterations of the lining of the mouth make food intake very difficult. Let's see some recommendations in situations where we have "problems in the mouth."

• In case of dental problems in which it is difficult to chew, soft textures will be a priority.
• If you suffer from canker sores or mouth sores, it is advisable to avoid foods that irritate the mucosa and those that are very hard.
• In the case of having a dry mouth, choose liquid or soft foods, such as flan, ice cream, soups, stews, juices ...

DENTAL PROBLEMS

When what is difficult for us is to chew, we must logically look for foods of a soft and smooth consistency that we can take without so many difficulties. We can opt for soft foods by nature but also to prepare others in a way that they are.

• Soft or easy-to-soften foods. Ripe fruits such as banana, strawberry, medlar, pear, apricot, tangerine ... On the other hand, steamed or boiled vegetables (zucchini, peppers, pumpkin, moniato ...) pasta, rice and well-cooked potatoes , dairy products, breads and soft cookies or soaked in milk, juice or herbal teas, etc.

• Cooking that softens the food. Preparations that hydrate the food will make food softer and easier to chew than those that dry out the food. We will choose to steam and boil, for stir-fries and stews, for papillote oven cooking, etc. We will avoid the iron, the grill, the dry oven, the al dente preparations, some very crunchy woks ...

• Adapt the textures. In addition to the cooking itself, we can chop the food very small or even grind the food more or less finely. Instead of taking the meat in a fillet, it can be consumed in hamburgers, meatballs, croquettes, cannelloni ... even fish if it is also difficult to chew. Well-cooked vegetables can be mashed with a fork or taken into creams, purees or concentrated soups, just like legumes.

Example of an easy chew menu: Tomato juice + beef burger with mashed potato, sifted fresh tomato and well-cooked sweet potato cubes + Tangerines

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COLD SORES

It is a very annoying and painful problem that can make ingestion very difficult. We must avoid all those foods that will further irritate the surface of the wound, and also try to have good oral hygiene and drink plenty of water.

• Foods that no longer irritate wounds:
  • Avoid those that can adhere to oral lesions (potato, semolina ...)
  • Avoid those that cause mechanical irritation (toast, cookies ...)
  • Avoid irritating the mucosa (acidic, bitter, spicy and very salty ...)

• Facilitate swallowing:
  • Use butter, cream, oil or soft sauces such as bechamel, non-acid yogurt to promote chewing and the glide of the bolus.
  • Sometimes it is very useful to take food with a straw, since this way the contact between the oral mucosa and the food is minimal.

• Tips:
  • Before eating, keep very cold water in the mouth or even crushed ice if it is supported (without contact with wounds) to numb the pain and eat better.
  • Drink water to prevent the walls of the mouth from becoming too dry and sticking to the gums or teeth.

Sample menu for sores: Pumpkin cream + extra fine peas with caramelised minced onion + milk shake with banana.

ALTERATIONS IN SALIVATION / DRY MOUTH

Dry mouth, called xerostomia, occurs when the salivary glands produce very little saliva. Saliva is necessary to perceive the taste and to swallow easily, and this problem can cause a burning sensation or discomfort, chapped lips, mouth sores, etc., even dental demineralization and oral infections. It's recommended:

-Take one after eating: it is essential to avoid complications derived from this problem, therefore cleaning is essential and includes rinses, dental floss and special brushes. In addition, a correct hydration of the lips is necessary.

-More hydration in meals: when suffering from dry mouth we will avoid dry and fibrous foods (nuts, cookies, etc.), otherwise we will choose liquid or soft foods: flan, ice cream, soups, stews, juices. We will mix sauces, broth, butter and yogurt to the food so that they are moistened and we can use vinegar and lemon juice to season the food. Some foods can increase the feeling of a dry or pasty mouth, such as some thick, oily foods and whole milk.

-Keep the mouth moist: in order to keep the mouth hydrated, it is advisable to increase the amount of fluids in the diet. Some tips are: take small sips of water during the meal, eat little but frequently, always carry a bottle of water with you to moisten your mouth, drink sugar-free candies and gum and drops of lemon juice to stimulate saliva, even break up small pieces of ice in the mouth. In addition, it is recommended to rinse your mouth with a tablespoon of fresh lemon diluted in a glass of water 15 minutes before starting to eat.

In the event of any problem, it is best to go to the dentist.

Sample menu for dry mouth: Semolina and vegetable soup + beef stew with mushrooms and prunes (meat stew with juice) + mandarin oranges.