Fluoride:
Patients can eat or drink right away. We only ask that you avoid hot beverages and chewy or crunchy foods for 2 hours.
Glass Ionomer White Filling:
- For 48 hours, please eat soft foods only, and use caution to avoid hard, crunchy foods while the material reaches its maximum strength and hardness.
- Suggested foods: Soup, Yogurt, Macaroni and Cheese, Apple Sauce, Scrambled eggs, Smoothies, Mashed Potatoes, and Ice Cream.
- It is always a good idea to avoid chewing ice or hard candies to prolong the life of your child's teeth and restorations.
Stainless Steel Crowns (SSC):
- The crown that your child had placed today is cemented onto the tooth. This cement takes about 12 hours to achieve its final set. A soft diet for the rest of the day is suggested.
- Crowns may come off if your child eats sticky candies, chewing gum, etc. Please avoid these.
- It is not unusual for the gum tissue around the crown to be red, and or irritated for several days. Salt-water rinses can be used.
- Using a Q-tip, apply olive or coconut oil around the edge of the crown for the next 3 nights.
Extraction:
- Have your child bite on gauze until bleeding is controlled, which may take up to 30 minutes.
- Remember that your child’s cheek, lips and tongue may be numb for approximately 2-4 hours
- Avoid hard and crunchy foods for the first 48 hours as this may irritate the extraction site. Cold and/or soft foods are a great choice (i.e. ice cream, applesauce, mac and cheese, etc.)
- You may give children’s Tylenol or Motrin/Advil for any discomfort.
Space Maintainer:
- Sensitivity is expected after the placement of a space maintainer. You may give children’s Tylenol or Motrin/Advil for any discomfort.
- Eating sticky foods may dislodge the space maintainer. Please have your child avoid eating crunchy or hard foods for 48 hours.
- It is important to maintain excellent oral hygiene following the placement of the space maintainer since extra food debris and plaque can easily be trapped around the appliance.
Local Anesthesia:
- After the appointment, you may give children’s Tylenol or Motrin/Advil for any discomfort.
- Your child may eat and drink immediately after the appointment, but give them liquids or soft food and have them avoid chewing on the numb side. Give them nothing they have to chew excessively while they are numb.
- Watch your child for biting, scratching, or picking at their lip, tongue, or inside of their cheek. A lip bite can cause swelling, bleeding, or ulceration and can be confused with an allergic reaction or infection. These usually heal quickly but can take up to a week or so.
