After Your Cleaning & Fluoride
Great job keeping up with your cleaning! Your teeth are polished, the plaque and tartar are gone, and a fluoride treatment is now strengthening your enamel. A couple of small steps right after help you get the most out of your visit. Here is what to do.
Right After Fluoride
- Wait 30 minutes before eating or drinking so the fluoride can fully absorb.
- If a varnish was applied, it may feel slightly fuzzy and can stay on for several hours, that is normal and working.
- Avoid hot drinks, crunchy foods, and alcohol the rest of the day if varnish was placed.
If Your Gums Feel Tender
- A little tenderness or sensitivity after a thorough cleaning is normal and brief.
- Warm salt water rinses soothe the gums.
- A sensitivity toothpaste like Sensodyne helps if hot or cold bothers you.
Keeping Your Mouth Healthy
- Brush twice a day and floss daily. This is what keeps your teeth clean between visits.
- Keep your regular cleanings so we can catch any small issue before it becomes a big one.
- For kids, help them brush and floss until they can do a thorough job on their own.
Call Us If
- You have lasting sensitivity or a sore spot that does not settle in a few days.
- You notice bleeding gums that continue between visits.
- Anything you saw or felt during the visit that you want checked.
- Anything that concerns you about your teeth or gums.
Keeping That Clean Feeling
That smooth, just-cleaned feeling is easiest to keep with simple daily habits. A little consistency between visits makes your next cleaning even easier.
- Brush twice a day and floss daily, clearing plaque before it can harden into tartar.
- Keep your cleaning schedule. Regular visits keep your teeth and gums healthy and catch problems early.
- Limit sugary and acidic drinks, and rinse with water after them to protect your enamel.
Keep up the good habits and you will breeze through your next visit!
Questions about your cleaning or home care? Call the office anytime. We are here for you!
