Eating After Fluoride Treatment

The first thing most patients ask after receiving a fluoride treatment is “When can I eat or drink?”. Fluoride is a common treatment following regular dental cleanings. Most of the time, it is a simple fluoride rinse that your hygienist will have you swish in your mouth. Some patients may receive a fluoride varnish which is a topical paste applied directly to the teeth. Your hygienist will let you know how long you should wait before eating or drinking.

Why do I need fluoride treatment?

Fluoride is a very common solution used to help strengthen the enamel of your teeth and protect them against decay. When a fluoride varnish is used, it is painted onto the teeth and allowed to sit so that it is able to seal over your teeth. Fluoride varnish does feel a bit slimy but is usually minty and does not taste bad. A fluoride rinse is just like a mouthwash that you would usually use at home. After receiving fluoride, it is typical to wait about 30 minutes before eating or drinking. There are a few things that you want to avoid after a fluoride treatment which we will discuss later.

Eating after a dental cleaning

A lot of times, patients will visit the dentist after they’ve had breakfast or while before they will have dinner. If you were a patient that likes to have your teeth cleaned during your lunch hour, you will likely be able to eat once you return to your office as the 30 minute waiting period will probably have passed. Are teeth and gums are sometimes a bit more sensitive than normal right after a professional cleaning so there are foods and drinks to be avoided, such as very hot or very cold foods and drinks and anything crunchy.

What can I eat after a dental cleaning?

Along with hot and cold foods and beverages, a few other things to avoid include foods that are sticky, crunchy, spicy, and citrusy. The acids and spices in these foods can aggravate freshly cleaned teeth and gums since they tend to be more sensitive than usual.

If you are a patient that has your dental cleanings over your lunch hour, you will need to eat after your cleaning and will be perfectly pain-free if you stick to a simple sandwich or salad that isn’t too crunchy. Eggs and cheese or yogurt are also easily consumed following a dental cleaning. If you do not tend to have sensitivity after a cleaning, you can likely eat whatever you would usually eat for lunch.

As far as beverages are concerned, it is best to stick to room temperature water for at least a few hours following your dental cleaning. Coffee, tea, and sodas can easily stain freshly clean teeth and sugary beverages are never good for teeth.

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