It is an everyday phenomenon often seen at the dentist’s office. As soon as the patients who have completed the dental procedures immediately enquire about how long will they have to wait to eat. People mostly shirk away from the dental procedures, as they have the undeniable fear of the unknown. It has been observed that people have their concerns about food and liquid intake before and after the dental procedure, especially when they are paying massive amounts of money. This concern is understandable, as no one would want to undo the dental procedure by eating and drinking the wrong foods.
Many people stop consuming any food hours before dental procedures. Often the dentists put out a list of do’s and don’ts for the patients. There are specific conditions that may affect when you must eat after your appointment with the doctor.
Fluoride Varnish Treatment Means You Should Wait
In the majority of scenarios, one can eat right after a dental cleaning procedure. However, if one receives a fluoride varnish treatment with dental cleaning, they are not permitted to do so.
A fluoride varnish procedure helps strengthen one’s teeth against decay, by repairing the enamel on one’s teeth. To get the most out of this procedure, one will need to wait 30 minutes after one’s dental cleaning to eat and drink. Thirty minutes of waiting will ensure that the fluoride varnish treatment has maximum time to seal around the teeth.
Fluoride varnish is used today for fluoride treatment. The fluoride varnish safely provides maximum protection by delivering the optimal fluoride concentration that is possible. The fluoride varnish may look like white and pasty on the surface of the tooth. For obtaining the maximum advantage, it is mandatory that one must follow these recommendations mentioned below after leaving the dentist’s office:
- A person must avoid eating and drinking for at least an hour.
- A person must avoid brushing or flossing for at least 4-6 hours.
- If possible, wait until next morning to resume regular oral hygiene. The residual fluoride varnish, if any, will be eliminated by thorough brushing and flossing the following day.
- If you need to eat, then consume a soft food diet for the coming 4-6 hours.
- One must altogether avoid hot drinks and products containing alcohol (beverages, oral rinses, etc.) for a minimum 4-6 hours.
- If you use prescribed fluoride toothpaste, do not apply for two days following treatment.
What To Eat After A Fluoride Varnish Treatment
While you can consume whatever you want after a fluoride varnish Treatment, there may be some things you must avoid. Specific foods to avoid for a while after the procedure are foods which are:
- Citruses
- Cold
- Crunchy
- Spicy
- Sticky
This may seem like you are left with no food options. However, the sensitivity of your teeth will calm down in a couple of hours, and you will be free to eat whatever you want. Directly post-treatment, some of the foods you should eat are:
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Soft foods (yoghurt, bananas, etc.)
- Soups
Moreover, be sure to remain hydrated. You must avoid drinks with sugar content, as it can be harmful on your fresh, cleaned teeth. Water is the best option, as it will not stain your teeth and hydrate you the best out of any liquids you could be drinking.
