A deep cleaning, also referred to as scaling and root planing, is usually done in patients who have excessive buildup of tartar and plaque, or who have active gum disease. Unlike a regular dental cleaning, a deep cleaning utilizes more specialized tools and can take a longer amount of time and more extensive work to properly clean teeth. After having any teeth cleaning performed, its important to take care of your teeth to help maximize recovery and keep your teeth looking and feeling great.
On top of this, there are also a few dietary recommendations that you should stick with if you’ve recently had a deep cleaning performed to help shorten the amount of time required for healing.
In general, most patients should stick with foods that are soft, easy to chew; as well as foods that are not extremely hot/cold, foods that are less acidic, and foods that don’t stick to the teeth easily. This means foods like yogurt, pudding, oatmeal, well cooked rice or pasta, bananas, smoothies, eggs, cottage cheese, and warm soup are perfect foods that you should eat for at least the first 24 hours. But depending on how long it takes for your gums and teeth to heal, you may have to stick to soft, easy to chew foods for as long as up to a week; however, most patients will notice that their gums have completely healed by this time and can start reintroducing more solid foods into their diet.
What Can You Not Eat After a Deep Cleaning
There are certainly foods you should avoid after a deep cleaning to help reduce the time needed for your teeth and gums to heal. For starters, hard foods like candy and chocolates should be avoided, as the force needed to break these foods apart could cause unnecessary damage to your teeth and gums.
Chewy foods like steak and pork chops also require too much force to properly tear apart, and should be left out of your diet for at least the first week post cleaning. Acidic foods like lemons, oranges, and hard sodas can degrade enamel quickly after a deep cleaning and should be kept away.
Other foods that can get stuck in between teeth easily like popcorn, peanut brittle, and hard candies are best to be avoided. And lastly, foods that are overly hot or cold like steaming hot coffee, or extremely cold ice cream could flare up sensitivity if eaten too soon after a deep cleaning.
Fortunately, these foods can often be reintroduced within a week after a deep cleaning with no issues, so long as you continue to take care of your teeth. This means brushing your teeth twice daily, flossing everyday, using mouthwash as needed, and attending regularly scheduled dental appointments. For more information please contact our dentists in Wilmington MA at Atlantic Dental Arts, 264 Main St, Wilmington, MA 01887, (978) 488-9001.