Did you know that the way you take care of your teeth before and after a dental appointment will affect the longevity of your treatment? Of course, you want to make the most of your dental health, so taking the proper steps to improve it is essential. In today’s blog, we will be going over the proper oral care before and after a dental appointment.
Things to Do Before a Dental Appointment
Before you go to your dental appointment, there are several things you should do to ensure you make the most out of your visit. Below we’ll cover a list of dos and don’ts:
Brush Your Teeth Before Your Dental Appointment
If you’re wondering if you should brush your teeth before going to dental appointment, the answer is yes. While it’s not required, it will help your dental procedure go smoother—meaning less pain and better work. Your dentist can focus on the task at hand rather than centering on removing residual food particles or recent stains.
Do Not Eat Before Your Dental Appointment
It is recommended that you do not eat at least 5 hours before your dental appointment. This will help prevent food debris from lodging in your teeth—which can irritate you during a cleaning. It’ll make the cleaning process more pleasant for you and your dentist. If you’re undergoing a more serious dental procedure, your dentist will give you specific instructions on how much you have to fast.
Do Not smoke Before Your Dental Appointment
If you’re a smoker, you should not smoke at least 5 hours before your dentist appointment. If possible, we recommend not smoking at all since all cigarettes contain harmful chemicals that are known to wear your enamel over time.
Things to Do After a Dental Appointment
Depending on your specific dental procedure, it may be necessary to abide temporarily by certain oral care routines. For more complex procedures, your dentist will give you specific instructions as to what you can and cannot do after your appointment. Sometimes you may experience numbness, pain, and/or swelling after your dental procedure, so you may have to be lighter with your dental hygiene. However, once the side effects pass, you should resume your normal oral hygiene routine of brushing at least twice daily and flossing once per day. Below we’ll go over common questions regarding what to do after a dental procedure:
How Do I Relieve Pain After a Dental Cleaning?
After getting a dental cleaning, we recommend gargling salt water several times a day to reduce swelling/inflammation. You can also take pain medication such as ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) to ease the pain. Choose soft foods rather than crunchy or chewy foods.
How Long After Fluoride Can I Drink Coffee?
While it’s best to completely avoid teeth-staining beverages like coffee, red wine, and tea, it’s safe to consume these types of beverages 2-3 hours after your varnish.
What Should I Eat After a Dental Cleaning?
Depending on the type of food you have, it may be necessary to eliminate crunchy, hard foods from your diet until you’ve fully recovered from the side effects of the procedure. As a general rule of thumb, it is safe to consume soft foods after a dental cleaning, such as:
-
- Bananas
- Jell-O
- Soup
- Mashed potatoes
- Applesauce
- Yogurt
Taking proper oral care before and after a dental appointment will ensure you have a healthier mouth throughout the year, in between your routine dental visits. Proper brushing and flossing techniques will save you a ton of money in the long run by preventing the need to have expensive surgery performed on receding gums or cavity-ridden teeth. If you’re concerned about your dental health or have questions about what you should do before or after your dental appointment, contact Dental Arts San Diego today! We’re more than happy to help! Call (619) 444-1001, or click here to schedule an appointment. We are located at 707 Arnele Avenue, El Cajon, CA 92020.
