Should You Eat Before Visiting the Dentist?

Whether to eat or not before going to the dentist may not seem like a big deal - but it can actually affect your overall experience, and there are some soft guidelines around what and when you should eat before your appointment.

For general checkups, eating your normal meals on the day of the appointment is not a huge issue. However, you should be more considerate of eating new or unusual foods before your appointment, or eating if you’re having a more intensive treatment and need to be put under general anaesthesia.

Can you eat before a dental appointment?

In most cases, yes - you can eat several hours before a dental appointment, but you shouldn’t be eating while making your way to the appointment! 

After eating, food particles can get stuck between teeth and gums, which can complicate the checkup/cleaning process for your dentist. Your dentist will also have to deal with the residual odour of the food throughout the checkup. 

This is why most dentists recommend brushing teeth and flossing right before your appointment. It’s somewhat polite, but also the best way to ensure your teeth are free from contaminants and food, making it easier to assess and clean teeth.

When is it safe to eat before the dentist?

It is generally safe to eat the day of an appointment that does not involve sedation or general anaesthesia, such as a routine dental checkup or a teeth cleaning appointment. 

For a general checkup, we recommend eating at least 1-2 hours before visiting the dentist. This provides more time for digestion and lowers the likelihood of nausea or gastrointestinal discomfort during the appointment. 

If you have a dental appointment that involves patient sedation, like a wisdom tooth removal, you must avoid any food or drink for at least 6 hours before - your dentist /anaesthesist will provide instructions to follow on the morning of the appointment. 

This is to reduce the risk of aspiration pneumonia, which is when food or liquid accidentally enters the lungs. When an individual is sedated or placed under general anaesthesia, they have less control over their swallowing reflex. As such, there is a risk of aspiration pneumonia during dental work.

Your dentist will inform you whether it is safe to eat before your appointment. 

What can you eat before a dental visit?

If you’re planning to eat before the appointment, be sure to eat something that won’t cause irritation to your teeth or gums. Don’t eat anything too sharp, or anything that can cause inflammation: stick to soft foods.

Avoid consuming any food that can get stuck in your teeth and gums, such as popcorn, sticky lollies, hard nuts and biscuits. Stringy foods like steak, spinach, and broccoli can also leave food particles in your mouth that you can’t easily brush or rinse.

Steer clear of coffee and wine, and if possible, sugary drinks that can stain your teeth -  the high sugar level coupled with acidity can erode the protective enamel of your teeth.

Brush your teeth and rinse your mouth before the appointment. Avoid brushing your teeth too hard as it can make your gums swell and bleed.

Bluff Point Dental are the dental experts in Geraldton across a wide range of treatments, including teeth cleaning, cavity fillings, wisdom tooth removal, and dental crowns. Our dentists put patient safety and comfort as the priority - we will inform you whether it is appropriate to eat before your next visit, and what you can eat to ensure a smooth appointment.