INTELIHEALTH - People who have lost all of their teeth eat fewer fruits and vegetables. They also report that their dentures don't allow them to chew as well as they did with their natural teeth.

Now research has found that the two things may not be linked. People do not avoid fruits and vegetables just because they can't chew very well.

Researchers from Newcastle University in the UK studied two small groups of people. One group had teeth, and one had no teeth but wore full dentures. The people with teeth did not eat more fruits and vegetables than denture wearers. They did tend to drink more fruit and vegetable juices, however.

Compared with the people that had their natural teeth, those that wore dentures were older and more likely to be retired. They also had lower education levels.

These differences could affect the results, said David A. Albert, DDS, MPH, associate professor at the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine. "Future research should examine denture wearers compared to individuals with teeth in similar age groups," he said.

Chewing ability did not have much effect on whether denture wearers ate many fruits and vegetables. Their attitudes and knowledge about healthful eating were more important factors.

The study shows that improving a denture-wearer's ability to chew might not improve diet, researchers said. Other barriers to healthful eating also must be addressed.

The study appears in the August issue of the Journal of Dental Research.