A trip to your dentist is a great way to preserve your oral health and address any issues with your gums and teeth. If you have an upcoming dental appointment, you could feel nervous and uncertain about what to expect. It is normal to be anxious about dental appointments; most people experience this feeling. Most patients often wonder about what to do or avoid before their appointment. What should you eat, and what should you avoid? How should you dress for the dental appointment? Should you wear or remove jewelry? These are some of the questions that people ask before dental appointments. Understanding how to prepare for your dental appointment can help you feel more relaxed.
Should You Eat Before a Dental Appointment?
You can usually eat before your dental appointment, but there could be some conditions. If you go for a cleaning or routine dental checkup, you can eat whatever you want before the appointment. You can go about your normal diet after brushing and flossing your teeth after eating. Cleaning your teeth before the appointment removes food particles stuck between the teeth, making your dentist's work easier.
If you are set to receive local anesthesia, having a snack or meal a few hours before your dental appointment is important. You will ensure enough sustenance to maintain proper blood sugars during treatment. It is advisable to consult your dentist beforehand to understand the specific recommendations or instructions regarding eating before your dental appointment. Your dentist will guide you based on your unique circumstances and oral health.
Foods to Avoid Before a Dental Appointment
Some foods are healthier for your teeth than others. You can eat almost anything several days before your dental appointment. However, avoiding certain foods on the day of your appointment is advisable.
Here are some foods to avoid before going to the dentist:
- Foods that can get stuck between the teeth, like toffee and popcorn.
- Foods that contain coloring because they could make the decayed parts of the tooth less noticeable.
- Foods or drinks that are too hot or too cold.
- Any food that could make your teeth feel sensitive because they can make you uncomfortable during treatment.
- Excessively spicy foods.
- Hard foods like nuts or dried fruits.
- Acidic foods and beverages as they can corrode the tooth enamel, making it brittle.
- Alcoholic beverages.
Avoiding these foods before the dentist's visit makes your dentist's work easier.
When You Should Not Eat Before a Dental Appointment
Sometimes, you should not eat for several hours before visiting your dentist. You should avoid eating if you are to undergo dental surgery, blood tests, or general anesthesia.
When you receive general anesthesia, your body reflexes can stop temporarily. If you had eaten before receiving anesthesia, you could end up experiencing nausea or vomiting.
If you are unsure whether to avoid certain foods before your dental appointment, consult your dentist beforehand. Your dentist will advise you how to prepare, including whether you should avoid some or all foods.
When You Are Scheduled For Dental Surgery
Now, you understand that you should not eat if you are scheduled to undergo dental surgery. The other common question patients ask is how long before surgery should you stop eating?
If you are to undergo surgery or receive anesthesia, you should stop eating at least five hours before the procedure. When you avoid eating before surgery, your body has enough time to metabolize the food in your stomach. You can also avoid anesthesia-related complications.
The last meal you take before a dental surgery matters. The same applies if you are scheduled for a dental procedure that will take several hours. You would not want to feel hungry when the dentist works on your teeth.
Eating a meal rich in protein before your dental appointment is crucial. Protein helps you feel satiated longer, meaning you will not feel hungry too fast. The leading sources of protein include fish, eggs, and chicken.
You should remember that fasting before dental surgery mainly involves solid foods. You can still drink clear liquids like water or apple juice up to a certain period before the procedure. However, every situation is unique. It is best to discuss your unique situation with your dentist.
What You Should Eat As Your Last Meal Before A Dental Appointment
Here are some of the recommended foods to consume as your last meal before dental surgery:
- Soft foods — They are easy to chew and gentle on your stomach. They include yogurt, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, or smoothies. These foods are less likely to leave particles or residue that can interfere with your surgical procedure.
- Vegetables and fruits — For additional nutrients, include soft foods and cooked vegetables in your meal. Steamed vegetables like peas and carrots, ripe fruits like bananas, and applesauce can be great options.
- Lean proteins — Choose lean proteins like fish, skinless chicken, and tofu. Protein is crucial because it enhances tissue repair and recovery. Avoid greasy or fatty meats, which are hard to digest.
- Grains and bread — If you choose to have bread or grains, go for softer options like pasta, rice, and well-cooked oatmeal. Avoid crusty and hard bread, which can irritate your gums or mouth.
Stay hydrated before dental surgery. Drink plenty of water on the day before the surgery. Do not consume caffeinated or sugary drinks because that can lead to dehydration or interfere with the surgery.
Making Your Teeth Look Good Before A Dental Appointment
If you plan to visit your dentist, you will want your teeth to look as good as possible during the appointment. You would not want the embarrassment of having food particles on your teeth. You will also want to get rid of the plaque that could have accumulated on the surface of your teeth.
Brush, floss, or use a mouthwash to make your teeth look great before the dental appointment. Brushing and flossing will remove the food particles on your teeth, while mouthwash will give you a fresh breath.
Brushing and flossing your teeth before seeing your dentist is important for two reasons. First, it removes food particles and bacteria from the teeth, so your dentist spends less time cleaning them. Brushing also helps prevent bad breath, which can be a put-off for you and your dentist.
Unfortunately, no quick fix can make your teeth look perfect on the day of your dental appointment. Observing consistent dental hygiene practices is the only way to make your teeth look great. Brushing and flossing your teeth daily will improve their appearance by your next dental appointment.
What You Should Avoid Doing Before A Dental Appointment
Like with any other medical appointment, you should avoid certain things before a dental appointment:
Eating Sugary Foods And Drinks
Eating sugary foods or consuming large quantities of sugary drinks can disrupt the results of blood tests conducted during dental appointments. Dentists often perform blood tests to measure glucose levels or determine the white blood cell count.
If you have an autoimmune disorder or are diabetic, blood tests are crucial. The results of a blood test help your dentist determine whether to take additional precautions when handling you.
Sugary foods and drinks increase the glucose levels in your blood and can alter or lower your mouth's pH level. A low pH level can alter the results of blood tests like plaque analysis. Therefore, do not consume sugary foods or drinks before your dental appointment.
Foods That Cause Tooth Sensitivity
Certain foods and drinks can cause tooth sensitivity, making you experience pain or discomfort in the teeth. Before you visit the dentist's office, you should not consume foods or drinks that make your teeth feel sensitive. Avoiding these foods will make you feel comfortable during the dental visit. Your dentist will also assess your oral health status more accurately.
Wearing Excessive Makeup
Applying makeup is probably part of your normal routine. However, wearing too much makeup can affect how your dentist operates. During treatment, your dentist might need to hold your face to keep it still. If you have too much makeup on, some of the makeup could be transferred to the dentist’s hands and dental equipment. This mess can interfere with the treatment or even put your safety at risk. You should wear little or no makeup to ensure stress-free dental treatment.
Consuming Alcohol
Alcohol has several impacts on the body that range from mild to severe. Alcohol can cause fatigue, dehydration, impairment, depression, and mood disturbances. The exact effects of alcohol depend on how much alcohol you consume and how often you drink. The negative impacts of alcohol consumption become more evident if you are scheduled for dental surgery. Consuming alcohol before dental surgery increases the risk of bleeding during surgery and prolongs the recovery period.
Alcohol can also alter the rate at which anesthesia is absorbed into your body. Therefore, you would require higher doses of anesthesia than normal to achieve the desired effects. Alcohol consumption also interferes with the time it takes for anesthesia to kick in, thus prolonging the period you take at the dentist's office.
Wearing Fitting Clothes
Depending on the dental procedure you are to undergo, you might be seated in the same position for an extended period. If you wear tight clothing that clings to your body, you could experience excessive sweating or other discomfort. Uncomfortable clothing can cause an overall feeling of unease during treatment.
You should wear loose-fitting, light, and breathable clothes. These clothes will allow the free movement of air, avoiding overheating. Loose clothing also allows more freedom of movement throughout the treatment period.
Taking Painkillers
It is common for some patients to take painkillers before a dental appointment. You could feel tempted to take an analgesic before your dental appointment. This could be a good way to avoid pain and discomfort during treatment. However, it can be counterproductive. Painkillers can conceal or mask the underlying dental issue, making diagnosing you accurately challenging for the dentist.
The dental office's priority is ensuring the patient is comfortable and relaxed during treatment. Your dentist will assess your needs and provide anesthesia or sedation to ensure you do not experience pain or discomfort during the dental procedure.
Dentists understand how nervous or anxious some patients feel during a dental appointment. Your dentist will take the right measures to create a calming experience by addressing your concerns.
At the dental appointment, your dentist will discuss the anesthesia options available so you can choose the one that suits you most. The common options include oral sedation medication, local anesthesia, general anesthesia, and nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas.
It is particularly important to avoid taking pain medication if you are scheduled to undergo root canal treatment. It could seem logical to take painkillers before a frightening and painful dental procedure like a root canal treatment. However, taking medication beforehand is not advisable.
Your dentist will administer anesthesia before the root canal treatment, so there is no need for over-the-counter pain medications. In addition, if you take painkillers, you will eliminate the pain. This could be a problem because, before performing a root canal, your dentist will want to know the exact source of your pain. Therefore, you should leave the medication to your dentist, no matter how nervous you feel about the root canal.
Smoking
Smoking can cause many issues regarding your oral health. Smoking often causes tooth discoloration, gum disease, and an increased risk of oral cancer. The impacts of tobacco extend beyond your oral health and can include lung and heart diseases, a weakened immune system, an increased risk of stroke, and decreased fertility.
When preparing for a dental appointment, you should avoid smoking. Smoking can prevent you from achieving the desired results if you are scheduled for dental surgery or fillings. People who smoke are more likely to experience complications during and after dental surgery.
Smokers have a weakened immune system. Therefore, their bodies could take longer to recover after dental treatment. Tobacco use highly increases the risk of infection after dental surgery.
Wearing Contact Lenses
If you are scheduled for dental surgery, avoid wearing contact lenses. You could assume contact lenses are more comfortable than glasses, especially if you will be in the dentist's chair for an extended period. However, this is not the case, especially if you undergo oral surgery.
Wearing contact lenses can be problematic during surgery, especially if you receive general anesthesia. With general anesthesia, your eyes will probably remain closed for an extended period. Even a short period of closing your eyes can be risky when you have contact lenses on. Shutting your eyes for longer periods when you have contact lenses increases the risk of infection. The contact lenses will also be uncomfortable to remove afterward.
If you are to undergo dental surgery, you should also remove jewelry beforehand. If you have long hair, tie it back to keep it away from your face. You want to make the treatment process easy for you and the dentist.
Stepping Up Your Dental Hygiene Before Seeing A Dentist
The thought of a dental appointment can strike fear even if you always brush or floss your teeth. You could feel like putting in extended hours of dental hygiene. However, dental hygiene is a lifelong agenda. You can experience significant discomfort by simultaneously making up for lost time.
In addition, your dentist can tell that you put in extra work before the dental appointment. Excessive brushing and flossing before the appointment could irritate your gums, and your gums can appear dried out due to excessive use of alcohol-based mouthwash. Therefore, you should practice oral hygiene consistently to ensure you do not feel embarrassed during the dental visit.
Consuming Garlic
Garlic is delicious, but you should not consume it before your dental appointment. Garlic is often associated with pungent breath, which could make your dentist uncomfortable. Garlic acts as a blood thinner and can prevent blood clotting during dental surgery. Your dentist can also advise avoiding certain blood thinner medications before surgery. In addition, you should avoid consuming anything that contains citrus because citrus can weaken your tooth enamel.
Consuming Too Much Caffeine
Most people are anxious about visiting the dentist. If you are anxious or find the process of visiting a dentist extremely nerve-wracking, consuming caffeine can make the situation worse. Caffeine is not ideal for anyone who experiences dental anxiety because it can cause panic attacks during treatment. Try to replace your morning cup of coffee with a decaffeinated alternative.
Find an Experienced Dentist Me
The bottom line is that dental appointments can be intimidating for some people. Preparing ahead ensures that you have an effective dental appointment. If you are scheduled for a dental appointment, knowing what you should or should not do before the appointment is crucial. This knowledge can reduce the anxiety associated with dental appointments. Our experienced dentists at Tarzana Dental Care can answer all your questions regarding how you should prepare for your dental appointment. Contact us at 818-708-3232 to speak to one of our dentists.