Getting your teeth cleaned by a dentist or hygienist is an important part of maintaining good oral health. During a cleaning, plaque and tartar are removed from above and below the gumline using scalers and polishers. Your gums may be irritated during the cleaning process. It’s common to wonder how long you should wait before eating after a dental cleaning.
Quick Answer
The general recommendation is to avoid eating for at least one hour after a dental cleaning. This allows time for the gums to heal and reduces the risk of irritation, infection or damage to the gums.
Why You Should Wait to Eat After a Cleaning
There are a few reasons why it’s advisable to avoid eating right after a dental cleaning:
- Your gums may be tender, irritated or bleeding slightly after the cleaning. Chewing food could further aggravate your gums.
- Food particles can get lodged in your teeth, especially in areas where tartar was removed. This increases the risk of cavities and new plaque buildup.
- The cleaning solution and fluoride left on your teeth needs time to fully absorb and strengthen tooth enamel.
- If anaesthetic was applied during your cleaning, the numbness in your mouth and gums can increase the risk of accidentally biting your cheek or tongue while chewing.
Allowing time for your mouth to recover after the cleaning protects healing gums and helps the fluoride treatments work most effectively.
How Long to Wait Before Eating After a Cleaning
Most dentists recommend waiting at least 60 minutes after your dental cleaning before eating anything. Here is an overview of waiting times:
- 60 minutes: The minimum recommended time to wait before consuming foods or beverages after a cleaning.
- 2 hours: The ideal waiting period to allow gums to heal before eating.
- 4-6 hours: Waiting this long allows gums to heal significantly and lets fluoride fully absorb into enamel.
- 24 hours: Waiting a full day before eating provides maximum healing and fluoride absorption but is not necessary in most cases.
Ask your dentist or hygienist for specific advice based on the extent of your cleaning and gum health. If anaesthetic was used or your gums were severely inflamed, a longer wait time of 2-4 hours may be recommended.
Foods to Avoid Immediately After a Cleaning
Certain foods should be completely avoided in the first 4-6 hours after a dental cleaning. These foods have the potential to cause damage or get trapped between teeth in the newly cleaned areas.
Foods to avoid include:
- Hard, crunchy, or chewy foods like chips, nuts, hard candies, carrots, toast, bagels, pizza crust, etc.
- Small seeds that can wedge between teeth such as sesame seeds, poppy seeds, or the seeds on strawberries.
- Sticky, tacky foods like chewing gum, caramel candies, dried fruit leathers or peanut butter.
- Spicy, acidic, salty or sugary foods which may irritate inflamed gums.
- Extremely hot or cold foods or drinks which can be painful on tender gums.
Stick to soft, cool foods for the first meal after your dental cleaning. Things like yogurt, applesauce, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, soup, ice cream and milkshakes are good options.
Is Drinking Water Okay After a Cleaning?
Drinking cool water is fine after a dental cleaning as long as you avoid extremely cold water. Lukewarm water is gentler and more comfortable for potentially irritated gums.
Sipping room temperature water helps hydrate tissues and rinse away blood or cleaning solution. You can begin drinking water 10-15 minutes after your cleaning.
Avoid drinking dark liquids like coffee, tea, wine or soda immediately after your cleaning. These can stain teeth that have just been polished and cleaned.
When Can You Resume Normal Eating?
It’s best to stick to soft foods for the rest of the day following your dental cleaning. By the next day, you can generally resume your normal diet.
Some tips for returning to normal eating include:
- Chew softly and evenly on both sides of your mouth to avoid putting too much pressure on areas with irritated gums.
- Brush and floss carefully after eating to remove any food debris.
- Cut food into small pieces if you have soreness or swelling.
- Avoid chewing gum or other sticky foods until gums are fully healed.
Pay attention to any lingering gum sensitivity. Avoid hard, crunchy or acidic foods for 3-5 days if your gums remain tender. Soft foods high in vitamin C and zinc aid healing.
Signs You Need More Healing Time
In most cases, your gums will heal quickly after a routine dental cleaning. But if you experience any of the following, it’s a sign you need more time before resuming a normal diet:
- Bleeding when brushing or flossing several days later
- Visible redness, swelling or puffiness of the gums
- Pain or throbbing discomfort in the gums
- Sensitivity to hot, cold or acidic foods
- Sores or ulcers on the gums
See your dentist if these symptoms persist more than 3-4 days after your cleaning. You may need medication or further treatment to prevent infection and promote healing.
Other Tips for Healing Gums Post-Cleaning
Here are some other tips to help your gums recover quickly after a dental cleaning:
- Rinse with warm saltwater to reduce inflammation and keep areas clean.
- Use over-the-counter gum pain relievers as needed.
- Avoid tobacco and alcohol which irritate the gums.
- Get plenty of rest to allow your body to heal.
- Drink lots of water to stay hydrated.
- Take vitamin C and zinc supplements to boost healing.
- Use a soft-bristle toothbrush and brush gently.
- See your dentist if problems persist beyond a few days.
Should You Reschedule Appointments After a Cleaning?
You don’t necessarily need to reschedule appointments and commitments the day of your dental cleaning. Just be aware your gums may be tender and easily irritated for the first few hours.
Here are some tips for managing appointments after a cleaning:
- Schedule cleanings early in the day so you have time to recover after.
- Plan for soft foods if you have lunch plans right after.
- Take ibuprofen or acetaminophen if you have lingering gum soreness.
- Tell your dentist about any dental irritation before procedures done the same day.
- Rinse with warm saltwater before eating meals out.
- Let your hygienist know if you have special events planned for the evening.
While it’s best to limit eating for at least an hour after your cleaning, necessary commitments and activities don’t need to be disrupted. Just take steps to protect healing gums and minimize irritation.
Special Considerations for Elderly Patients
Elderly patients should take some extra precautions following a dental cleaning:
- Have someone assist with transportation since anaesthetic can make the mouth numb for several hours after the cleaning.
- Wait at least 90 minutes to 2 hours before having meals to avoid biting the cheek or tongue.
- Have a soft food diet prepared in advance for the remainder of the day.
- Take pain relievers beforehand if gum irritation is common.
- Remove dentures for several hours to give gums a rest.
- Rinse with warm saltwater before replacing dentures.
- Inspect the mouth frequently to ensure no food is trapped.
Seniors often have greater gum sensitivity. Waiting longer before resuming eating and taking steps to promote healing is important.
Key Takeaways
Following these guidelines will help ensure a comfortable recovery after your dental cleaning:
- Wait at least 60 minutes before eating anything.
- Stick to soft, cool foods for the rest of the day.
- Avoid hard, crunchy, sticky, or acidic foods for 1-2 days.
- Rinse with warm saltwater and use gum pain relievers as needed.
- See your dentist if you have bleeding, pain or swelling 3-4 days later.
- Take special care of elderly patients have longer numbness and healing times.
Let your dentist know if you have any special events or commitments scheduled shortly after your cleaning. They can provide tips to minimize irritation and discomfort.
While waiting to eat is inconvenient, protecting your gums after a cleaning leads to faster healing and better oral health.
The Bottom Line
When your dental cleaning is complete, avoid eating for 60-90 minutes to allow your gums time to heal. Stick to soft foods for the rest of the day, and be gentle with your mouth for the next few days. With proper care after a cleaning, your gums will soon feel healthy and strong again.
References
Here are some references used as sources for this article:
- “Dental Cleanings.” Colgate
- “Before, During and After Your Cleaning Appointment.” Crest
- “Caring for Your Teeth.” WebMD
- “Will I need to avoid eating certain foods after a dental cleaning?” Mayo Clinic
| Time After Cleaning | Food Recommendations |
|---|---|
| First 60 minutes | Nothing (water is ok after 15 minutes) |
| First 24 hours | Soft, cool foods like mashed potatoes, noodles, ice cream |
| 3 Days | Soft foods, avoid anything sticky, chewy, spicy |
| 1 Week | Resume normal diet, but cut food into small pieces |
