Dentists recommend professional dental cleaning at least two times a year — it helps keep your teeth healthy, shiny, and free of potential issues. The dentist will remove plaque, bacteria, and cavity symptoms with the help of their professional tools during the teeth cleaning process. Since your mouth is fresh and your teeth squeaky clean after the procedure, you might be wondering: how long after teeth cleaning can I eat?
To learn when to resume eating after teeth cleaning and more, keep reading this blog!
How Long Should I Wait To Eat After a Teeth Cleaning?
A professional teeth cleaning session leaves your mouth feeling fresh and clean. Initially, your mouth will also have numbness, which may put you at risk of accidentally biting your tongue or cheek. This is why you should ask your dentist when you can continue eating.
Another thing that determines when you should eat after teeth cleaning is the kind of session you had. If you also had fluoride treatment, you should not eat anything for at least 30 minutes. Fluoride is an essential mineral for strong and healthy teeth; during the time you wait to eat, fluoride soaks into your teeth and gets to work by making them stronger. For even better and more lasting results, avoid consuming anything acidic as it wears down the enamel layer on your teeth.
If you only had the dental cleaning session done, you can resume eating and drinking whenever you want. Still, it is important to be cautious of what you eat to maintain the health of your teeth. Teeth and gums might have temporary soreness after teeth cleaning, so it is better to avoid having anything that can cause further agitation and discomfort.
List of Foods & Drinks You Should Have & Avoid After Teeth Cleaning
Some foods are good to have after dental cleaning, while others can damage your teeth. This is because the soreness in gums and teeth following dental cleaning can interrupt their healing.
You can ask your dentist which foods are okay to eat after teeth cleaning. They will give you a list of suitable options, which may include:
- Smoothies
- Eggs
- Mac & Cheese
- Mashed potatoes
- Mashed bananas
- Soft rice
- Normal-temperature soup
- Pasta
- Applesauce
Some foods can undo all the positive effects of dental cleaning and damage your teeth. Below, you will find a list of foods you should avoid and for how long:
- Anything acidic, including fruits, for two days
- Spicy foods for almost 48 hours
- Alcoholic foods or beverages for two days
- Crunchy and sharp food for two days
- Foods and drinks that are too hot for 2 days
- Hard food options for two days
What’s Next?
A teeth cleaning session results in a clean, fresh, and healthier mouth; you should maintain the results as long as possible. To do so, you can consult your dentist on what to include in your diet and what to avoid.
At Vintage Smile Family Dentistry, we care about your overall oral health, which is why we offer effective treatments. Dial (281) 251-7770 to contact us now or give us a visit at 10300 Louetta Rd Ste 132, Houston, TX 77070, United States.