Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan hope this post would help our young patients experience easy and comfortable recoveries after dental treatment.
First of all, each and every child reacts differently to the after sensations of dental care but there are many generalities for what parents can expect their children to experience. Food is a useful distraction and source of comfort when done right. Parents often ask us what exactly are allowed and not allowed.
First of all, here are the foods that are not recommended after dental work.
- OTC popular mouthwashes. Their ingredients can slow down the healing process. Your orthodontist or dentist would prescribe your child a proper mouthwash that does not contain alcohol
- Acidic food and drink. These can cause burning and pain in surgery sites.
- Food with tomatoes and tomato sauce (think pasta and pizza)
- Most tart fruits, like citruses and apples, pineapples
- Juice from the above fruits
- Juice boxes or juice in tubs (citric acid)
- Crunchy, hard food, seeds, kernels and other grainy food (rice, risotto, popcorn, chips, oatmeal): Pieces can get stuck in the surgery/treatment sites, causing discomfort and possible infection. The impact of chewing on them can be painful.
- Spicy foods – self explanatory
- Food with small particles like sesame seeds or sprinkles
When you have a piece of food stuck in the wound, it stops the healing and clotting process. So choose soft, easy-to-swallow foods without small pieces that may get lodged in healing tissues.
If something does become stuck in the wound or is bothersome, it is best to lightly irrigate with a large syringe or gently rinse with salt water and allow the water to fall from your mouth as opposed to vigorous swishing and spitting.
Please let us know if you have any questions about what is and what is not allowed after dental or orthodontic work.
About Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan, the offices of Drs. Plunkett, Ralstrom, Makowski, Thanasas, Ker, and Associates
Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan have specialized in pediatric dentistry and orthodontics since 1968. Our family-friendly and newly renovated office gives patients and families a more comfortable and consistent experience with dentistry from the very beginning. Our pediatric dentists treat children from newborn to 18 years of age while our orthodontists provide care for both children and adults and are proud to be Premier Providers of Invisalign and Invisalign Teen services. The ability to treat all patients with compassion and individuality, including those that may have special needs reaches beyond our facility, which has treatment rooms available for children who require additional privacy and customized care options. We pioneered valued hospital affiliations to allow dental services to be performed at DMC Children’s Hospital and St. John Macomb Hospital, when appropriate or necessary, and our specialists are also proud to be on staff at Henry Ford and Beaumont hospitals.
