There are factors that influence how soon you can eat or drink after a certain dental procedure.
Teeth scaling and cleaning - You can immediately eat/drink after having your teeth cleaned however, some people’s teeth are sensitive after cleaning so to avoid any discomfort, you should avoid extremely cold or hot food/drink.
An exemption to this is if you receive fluoride treatment. Flouride treatment repairs the enamel of your teeth and helps strengthen them against decay. Eating or drinking immediately may remove the fluoride treatment so it is recommended to wait 30 minutes for it to have enough time to seal around your teeth.
Composite Filling - Our white, tooth coloured fillings hardens instantly so you can eat and drink immediately.
Whitening - It is best to wait a day or so before eating or drinking anything that may stain or irritate your teeth.
Extraction - Typically, you can start eating once the anaesthetic wears off. It is recommended though to avoid chewing and to stick to liquids or soft foods until your gums heal. You can click here for extraction aftercare instructions.
Fissure Sealants - You don’t need to wait, you can enjoy something to eat right after leaving the clinic.
Root Canal Treatment - You can already eat once your temporary filling fully hardens after 30-45 minutes but it’s generally recommended, like any other procedures, to wait for your anesthetic to wear off to prevent biting your cheek or tongue. It is also recommended to avoid hard foods for 24 hours.
Braces - It is okay to eat right after the procedure but your mouth may be sensitive for days after your appointment so it is recommended to only eat soft foods while your mouth and teeth adjust.
Crown or Bridge - It is best to wait at least 30 to 45 minutes. However, most dentists recommend waiting as long as possible before eating and drinking after crown/bridge placement. Our dentist will detail post-operative instructions specific to the cement that they use.
Dental Implants - You can eat immediately after your dental implant but your gums will be tender and slightly swollen for the first few days so it is suggested to stick to liquid or soft foods for the time being.
Another factor to consider:
Local Anaesthetic - if you had a local anaesthetic, you may want to wait for the numbing agent to wear off before eating anything to avoid biting your tongue or cheeks. It usually wears off in 1 to 3 hours.
Your dentist will provide you with specific aftercare instructions so it is still best to talk to your Dentist if you have any concerns.