After a routine scale and clean you can usually eat and drink straight away. You may be asked to wait if fluoride was applied, if you had local anaesthetic for a deep clean, or if stains were removed with polishing or Airflow. This guide gives the usual waiting times for each.
How long to wait, by type of visit
- Routine scale and clean with no fluoride: no wait is needed
- Fluoride gel or foam: wait about 30 minutes before eating or drinking
- Fluoride varnish: you can usually have soft food and cool drinks soon after, but avoid hot drinks, hard or sticky food and brushing for about four to six hours
- Deep clean with local anaesthetic: wait until the numbness has worn off, usually two to three hours, so you do not bite your cheek or tongue
- Polishing or Airflow stain removal: avoid strongly coloured food and drink for a couple of hours
Your dental practitioner will tell you which of these applies before you leave. If you are unsure, ask.
What to eat first
- Soft foods such as yoghurt, eggs, soup that has cooled, pasta or bananas
- Water or milk
- Avoid very hot, very cold, hard, crunchy or sticky foods for the first few hours if your teeth feel sensitive
What to avoid after stain removal
Teeth can pick up colour more easily straight after polishing. For a couple of hours, avoid coffee, tea, red wine, cola, curry, soy sauce and tobacco. Read about Airflow teeth cleaning and how to remove stains from teeth.
Is it normal for teeth to feel sensitive after a clean?
Yes. Teeth and gums can feel tender or sensitive to cold for a day or two, especially if there was a lot of tartar or the gums were inflamed. This usually settles on its own. Contact us if it lasts longer than a week or gets worse.
How long does a clean take?
A check-up and clean usually takes 30 to 60 minutes. See how long a dental clean takes and our scale and clean page. For the cost, see dental check-up and clean cost.
To book a visit at Penrith Dental Care, 42 Castlereagh Street, Penrith, contact our team. This article is general information and does not replace advice from your own dental practitioner.