Many of us know what “cavities” are and the reason why they are bad for our teeth! Of course, we try our best to brush, floss and sometimes even use mouth rinses to lessen the chances of cavities from occurring, but as much as we try tooth decay is stubborn! This is why it is so important that we choose to receive dental cleanings so that a dentist can check to see if the teeth are healthy and so a dental hygienist can remove any plaque (tartar) from our teeth to decrease the likeliness of cavities from occurring or worsening.
During A Cleaning:
When you receive a cleaning at our office, we first want to make you as comfortable as possible! Once we know that you are comfortable, the dental hygienist will start with the proper treatment. Any traces of tartar on the teeth will be removed with special instruments and you’ll also receive a polishing of the teeth. While the polish goes on it may feel “gritty” or “sandy” to the tongue, but once washed off with water, your teeth will feel as smooth as ever and will shine like never before! As a last step (if needed), the hygienist will apply fluoride to your teeth. What fluoride does is to help prevent tooth decay by fighting the acid caused by plaque and sugars in your mouth.
Fluoride:
If you have received fluoride, you should wait at least 30 minutes before eating or drinking anything. This is to ensure that the fluoride treatment is able to fully absorb the fluoride so that it can fight against any decay in the future. If you did not receive fluoride during your cleaning, you can eat and drink anything you’d like immediately after.
Fast Food Favorites:
If you are looking for the best fast food after your cleaning, please know that any fast food would suffice depending on what you are in the mood for! However, be mindful if your teeth and gums are sore. If this is the case, you should try to eat something on the softer side.
For more recommendations on where to eat following your appointment, please contact River Run Dental and we would be happy to provide some suggestions! Our Miami Orthodontist friend, Dr. Derek Sanders always says to find a happy medium with it comes to life. This might be something to consider when you tell your children they can never have fast food.