An appointment with a dentist can make you nervous or confused, especially if you do not know how to prepare for it. You may feel overwhelmed, especially if you are unsure of what to expect once you get there. However, a few preparatory steps can keep you relaxed throughout your appointment, leaving you feeling great. There are things you should do and avoid, depending on the type of appointment you have or the treatment you are expecting. You can talk to your skilled dentist beforehand to know exactly what to expect before your appointment.
Here are some of the dos and don’ts you should keep in mind before your next visit to the dentist’s office:
Eat a Light Meal if Allowed
You are allowed to eat or not, depending on the kind of treatment you expect upon arrival. A skilled dentist will advise you on this to ensure you are ready for treatment when you arrive for your appointment. Generally, you are allowed to eat, but only a light meal will make you comfortable throughout the appointment. For example, if you are going for a regular checkup or professional teeth cleaning, you can take a light, balanced meal before your appointment. What matters is that you clean your teeth after a meal to remove stuck food from your mouth and between your teeth for proper examination.
However, not all foods are good for you before a dentist’s appointment. Dentists recommend foods that are good for your oral health and those that will not interfere with your examination or treatment. Some of the foods you should avoid just before your appointment include the following:
- Sugary and starchy foods encourage the growth of harmful bacteria in the mouth
- Foods that easily get stuck between the teeth, like toffee and popcorn
- Colorful foods that easily stain your teeth
- Too cold or too hot foods could hurt your teeth or gums
- Any foods that could make your teeth sensitive
While you could indulge in some of these days on other days, avoid them right before your dentist appointment. This is because they encourage plaque buildup, tooth stains, gum infections, and tooth sensitivity. Avoiding these foods will make your dentist’s work easier.
Remember that there are instances when you are not allowed to eat before a dentist’s appointment. Your dentist will communicate this beforehand to ensure that you are well-prepared when you come in for examinations and treatment. This requirement is mainly for people scheduled for surgery, blood tests, or anaesthesia. When a dentist administers anesthesia to you, the reflexes of your body stop temporarily, causing you to feel nauseated or vomit the food that is already in your stomach. When undergoing blood tests, some minerals and other nutrients in foods can alter the results.
Thus, if you are unsure of whether to eat or not eat before your next dentist appointment, ask your dentist. They will advise you according to the treatment you are expecting.
No Meals Before Surgery
If your dental surgery appointment is scheduled, the main rule during the preparation stage is to avoid eating or drinking anything before your appointment. This is because surgery involves anesthesia, and could cause you to feel nauseated or to vomit if there is food in your stomach before anesthesia. Dentists have a specific timeline within which you must not consume any foods before surgery. Generally, you should avoid eating foods at least five hours before anesthesia or surgery. This gives your body sufficient time to digest the food already in your stomach, helping prevent complications during and after surgery.
A skilled dentist will also guide you on the right food to eat before your appointment for dental surgery. In most cases, they recommend protein-rich meals as the last meal prior to your appointment. You can include eggs, chicken, legumes, soy, or fish in your diet. This is because protein-rich foods keep you feeling full longer. This ensures you do not feel hungry during and immediately after the surgery.
Brush and Floss
Cleaning your teeth right before your dentist appointment is advisable. It makes you comfortable and makes it easy for your dentist to examine your teeth. It is only natural to want to present your teeth to your dentist when they are as clean as possible. Thus, practice your usual oral hygiene routine, including brushing and flossing. The last thing you want is the embarrassment of presenting dirty teeth to your dentist for examination.
In addition to brushing and flossing, you can rinse your mouth with mouthwash to freshen your breath. Brushing and flossing remove food particles and debris from your teeth and mouth, while rinsing freshens your breath. Remember that these habits should be practiced daily, not just when you meet with your dentist. Practicing good oral hygiene habits ensures that your teeth look good at all times.
However, this does not mean brushing excessively, as this can ruin your teeth and gums right before your appointment. Excessive brushing can cause your sensitive gum tissues to bleed, which may affect your diagnosis or make examination difficult for your dentist.
Gather Your Medical Documents
Your medical history helps your dentist provide safe, personalized dental care. It provides information regarding any hidden risks, helps prevent medical or dental emergencies, and guides your dentist in developing an effective treatment plan. Your medical documents tell your dentist what you have previously been treated for and the current medication you are taking. This prevents medication conflicts. For example, if you have already been diagnosed with an allergy to anesthesia, your dentist will be careful when administering anesthesia before treatment. Your medical history also provides insights that will help your dentist keep you safe during examinations and treatment.
In that case, you should have all your medical documents ready for your dentist appointment. Try to remember as much of your treatment history as possible so you can share it with your dentist during the examination. If you have any medical concerns or questions, write them down beforehand so you do not forget to communicate them to your dentist during the appointment.
Do not Take Mediations Before Your Appointment
Dentists advise against taking medication before a dental appointment. Some of the medications you should especially avoid include painkillers, unprescribed sedatives, and blood thinners. If you are taking vital medications, do not stop taking them before consulting your medical provider. However, self-medicating can ruin your experience or cause complications.
Taking painkillers before a dental appointment will mask pain, making a proper diagnosis impossible. Your dentist needs real-time physical feedback during examination to determine the severity and course of your dental or oral issue. Painkillers will numb the problematic area, making it difficult for your dentist to give an accurate diagnosis.
Taking blood thinners before your appointment increases your risk of bleeding. Some popular medications, such as ibuprofen and aspirin, are mild blood thinners that can increase the risk of complications during invasive procedures, like a root canal treatment, tooth extraction, or a deep teeth cleaning.
Some medications interact with anesthesia, leading to medical complications. Others, like antidepressants, can interact with the medication your dentist administers, causing a spike in blood pressure and heart rate.
If you are on a specific prescribed medication, let your dentist know before your appointment.
Drink Water
Drinking water before your dentist appointment keeps you hydrated throughout the appointment. This is important as it keeps your mouth moist, which helps the dentist do their work more easily and quickly. Hydration also helps prevent dry mouth, which can make your gums sore and cause tooth pain after your appointment.
Water increases saliva production in the mouth. Saliva is your natural shield against oral issues as it washes out bits of food and germs from your mouth. It keeps your mouth clean throughout the appointment.
You will gag less during dental examinations and treatment when your mouth is well hydrated. People gag more during dental appointments due to dry mouth or a dry throat. Water keeps them wet, which relaxes you throughout your appointment.
Your dentist also works better when your mouth is wet than when it is dry. They can use their dental tools easily.
Avoid Alcohol, Smoking and Caffeine
Alcohol reduces the effectiveness of anesthesia. It interacts with the function of your nervous system and liver, which could affect hw your body reacts to medication. If your appointment involves numbing or sedation, alcohol will significantly affect the effectiveness of anesthesia.
Alcohol is also a blood thinner, which may increase your risk of excessive bleeding. This is dangerous, especially if your appointment involves invasive procedures like a root canal or deep cleaning. Also, alcohol affects saliva production in the mouth. It causes dry mouth, which can lead to gum irritation and pain during dental procedures.
Caffeine intensifies dental anxiety; it stimulates our nervous system, which could make it difficult to relax during your appointment. Caffeine also discolors or stains your teeth, which could affect the diagnosis for dental issues like cavities.
Smoking before your dentist appointment is also discouraged because nicotine constricts your blood vessels, affecting blood flow. This can deprive your gum tissues of oxygen, which can slow healing, especially after an invasive dental procedure, like tooth extraction.
Avoid Strong Smelling Foods
Strong-smelling foods, like heavy spices, onions, and garlic, may not be the best to eat right before your dentist appointment. The smell lingers in your mouth for a very long time, and may not give you or our dentist a great experience. Remember that your dentist will work very close to your face. A strong smell from what you previously consumed can bypass a standard mask, making them very uncomfortable during the examination or treatment.
The odor from strong-smelling foods like garlic does not go away even after brushing and rinsing your mouth with mouthwash. The smell comes from the bloodstream and the digestive tract, making it very difficult to eliminate before your appointment. If you have an underlying oral issue, the strong odor can mask it, making it difficult for your dentist to provide an accurate diagnosis. For example, if you have an underlying halitosis, your dentist may not give an effective diagnosis if there is an even stronger smell in your mouth.
Avoid Whitening Treatments
If your teeth still look dull after brushing them, do not be tempted to use a whitening treatment, especially right before your dentist appointment. This is because whitening treatments are usually made using bleaching agents that can cause gum irritation and tooth hypersensitivity. This will ruin your experience by making you uncomfortable throughout your examination or treatment.
A whitening treatment will also mask your teeth’s true appearance, making it difficult for your dentist to provide an accurate diagnosis. For example, if you have a severe discoloration or stains, whitening treatments will attempt to brighten your teeth a little, which may not give your dentist the actual look of your teeth for proper diagnosis.
If you have an undiagnosed cavity, a whitening treatment can slip through it, putting you at a greater risk of nerve damage. The whitening agent, which is usually a chemical, can cause more damage if it reaches your tooth’s pulp. This could worsen your pain and cause medical complications.
Find an Experienced Dentist Near Me
If you have a dentist appointment soon in North Hollywood, you can talk to a skilled dentist about prior preparations to make your experience smooth and safe. A skilled dentist will advise you according to the nature of your appointment. They will also answer some of your questions and concerns to ensure that you are mentally and physically prepared for your appointment.
We have an all-inclusive list of dos and don’ts at SoCal Dental Care for patients preparing for a dental visit. The list helps them plan for an easy, smooth experience when they finally come to their appointment. We are also available to provide further information and guidance to ensure you avoid mistakes that could cause complications or ruin your experience. Call us at 818-821-8308 for more information and to book an appointment.
