How long after fluoride treatment can you eat?

If your dentist recommends a fluoride treatment for you from time to time and you always elect to wait, you should think again. Fluoride treatments are a safe, minimally invasive and pain free approach to strengthening the teeth and preventing tooth decay. Maybe you have said no because you were concerned about how long the treatment would take and what you would need to do in recovery. You may be surprised to hear the fluoride treatment procedure is quick and easy and requires little to no post-treatment instructions. Below is more information about fluoride treatment and post-treatment guidelines.

Table of Contents Show

The Fluoride Treatment Procedure
What to Eat After Fluoride Treatment
What can you eat after a fluoride treatment?
What happens if you eat after fluoride?
How long after fluoride can I drink iced coffee?
Can I drink water after fluoride?

The Fluoride Treatment Procedure

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that is used in overall and oral healthcare to strengthen teeth and bones. When fluoride is directly applied to the teeth, it adds mineral to the outside layer of the tooth, or the tooth’s enamel, helping to keep the tooth strong and prevent tooth decay. You most likely are exposed to fluoride on a daily basis through the tap drinking water in your community. Adding fluoride to drinking water is a public health initiative that was mandated years ago to help improve the oral health of the population in the United States. There are many ways to increase your daily fluoride exposure. In addition to the professional fluoride treatment offered at a routine dental exam, in-home fluoride treatments, and toothpaste or mouthwash with added fluoride are additional approaches to increase your daily dose of fluoride.

What to Eat After Fluoride Treatment

Generally, there are few post-treatment instructions that follow a fluoride treatment. Commonly, you can eat after a fluoride treatment. Your dentist will provide you post-treatment guidelines and any specific instructions to follow. In general, patients are advised to wait 30 minutes after a fluoride treatment before eating or drinking. This 30-minutes allows time for the fluoride treatment to seal to the teeth. Additionally, you may want to think more about what you are eating after a fluoride treatment. Immediately following the treatment, the teeth and gums are extra sensitive. When the teeth are still sensitive it may be best to avoid extremely cold or hot foods and beverages. Additionally, it may be a good idea to avoid foods that are high in acidity. Here is a list of foods to avoid after a fluoride treatment:

Citrus fruits (oranges, grapefruits, lemons, and limes)
Spicy foods
Crunchy or hard textured foods
Frozen or extremely cold foods (such as popsicles or ice cream)
Sugary drinks

Here is a list of recommended foods to eat after a fluoride treatment, including:

Soft foods (applesauce, mashed potatoes, yogurt, bananas, etc)
Soups or liquid foods
Hard-boiled eggs

If your next routine dental visit is approaching, you should consider a fluoride treatment. The treatment will help keep your teeth strong, prevent tooth decay, and may help reduce tooth sensitivity. Fluoride treatments are a low cost and effective way to improve your oral health. Don’t let your concerns about what and when you can eat after the procedure keep you from making the right choices for your health.

Tooth Sensitivity After Fluoride Treatment

You’ve probably heard this question after a fluoride varnish application: How long do I have to wait before I can eat and drink?

Well, that depends.

If patients want to make the most of their varnish treatment, the type of varnish you use might dictate when a morning patient can enjoy a hot cup of coffee, or what an evening patient might be considering for dinner.

Fluoride varnish works best when it coats the teeth for an extended period of time, so eating and drinking the wrong things too soon can change the efficacy of the treatment. Every varnish manufacturer has a different way of explaining their post-care instructions, so this quick guide helps break them down into an easily digestible format.

Just a note: Because many of the instructions surrounding additional use of fluorides were fairly consistent across the board (patient should avoid fluoride gels, foams and rinses the day of treatment, and avoid fluoride tablets for 2-3 days after) , post-care fluoride use is not included in the summaries below.

According to instructions from 10 fluoride varnish brands, here’s what should and shouldn’t be consumed after a fluoride varnish treatment, and when:

Varnish Pen® 5% Sodium Fluoride Varnish (Young Dental)

How long should it be left on?
At least 6 hours

What the instructions say:
Patient can consume soft foods and cold drinks immediately following treatment, but should avoid hot drinks, hard food, alcohol (including mouthwash), brushing and flossing for 6 hours.

In conclusion:
Avoid for at least 6 hours:

Hot drinks
Hard foods
Alcohol (including mouthwash)
Brushing
Flossing

OK right away:

Soft foods
Cold drinks

Download the instructions for use

FluoriMax™ 2.5% Sodium Fluoride Varnish (Elevate Oral Care®)

How long should it be left on?
4 to 6 hours

What the instructions say:
Avoid alcohol-containing beverages and mouth rinses for at least 4 hours. A normal diet can resume immediately, since unlike sticky and tacky varnishes the FluoriMax varnish layer forms a tenacious tooth bond. Wait 4 - 6 hours before resuming normal oral hygiene habits including brushing or flossing treated teeth. If possible, wait until the next morning.

In conclusion:
Avoid for at least 4 hours:

Alcohol (including mouthwash)

Avoid for 4 to 6 hours:

Brushing (if possible, wait until the next morning)
Flossing (if possible, wait until the next morning)

OK right away:

Soft foods
Hard foods
Hot drinks
Cold drinks

Download the instructions for use

D-Lish® 5% Sodium Fluoride Varnish (Young Dental)

How long should it be left on?
At least 4 hours

What the instructions say:
Instruct patient to avoid hard food, alcohol, brushing or flossing for the next 4 hours after application. Patients can consume hot liquids immediately following treatment.

In conclusion:
Avoid for at least 4 hours:

Hard foods
Alcohol (including mouthwash)
Brushing
Flossing

OK right away:

Hot drinks
Soft foods
Cold drinks

Download the instructions for use

Vanish™ 5% Sodium Fluoride White Varnish (3M™)

How long should it be left on?
4 to 24 hours

The coating will naturally wear away in that time period. In laboratory studies, Vanish White Varnish continues to release fluoride, calcium and phosphate for 24 hours. Patients should refrain from brushing or flossing their teeth for 24 hours to achieve the maximum benefit.

What the instructions say:
Patients can eat immediately after application of Vanish White Varnish. They should avoid eating foods that are hard or sticky and drinking beverages that are hot or contain alcohol. This includes the use of mouth rinses containing alcohol.

In conclusion:
Avoid for at least 4 hours:

Hard foods
Hot drinks
Alcohol (including mouthwash)

Avoid for 24 hours:

Brushing
Flossing

OK right away:

Soft foods
Cold drinks

Download the instructions for use

3M™ Fast Release Varnish (3M™)

How long should it be left on?
At least 4 hours

What the instructions say:
Do not brush or floss your teeth, and eat only soft food for at least 4 hours after the treatment. Do not consume hot drinks or alcohol (including mouth rinses) for at least 4 hours after treatment. 3M Fast Release Varnish coating can be removed by brushing and flossing.

In conclusion:
Avoid for at least 4 hours:

Hard foods
Hot drinks
Alcohol (including mouthwash)
Brushing
Flossing

OK right away:

Soft foods
Cold drinks

Download the instructions for use

Nupro 5% Sodium Fluoride White Varnish (Dentsply Sirona)

How long should it be left on?
At least 2 hours

What the instructions say:
Instruct patient to remain on a soft-food diet, avoid mouth rinses containing fluoride or alcohol, avoid brushing or flossing treated area for at least 2 hours after treatment. Inform your patient that the fluoride varnish may begin to gradually slough off the tooth surface after treatment. Varnish can also be removed after 2 hours by brushing and flossing.

In conclusion:
Avoid for at least 2 hours:

Hard foods
Alcohol (including mouthwash)
Brushing
Flossing

OK right away:

Hot drinks*
Soft foods
Cold drinks

*These aren't specifically mentioned in the instructions found online, so we're assuming they're OK right away; however, more information may be found with the instructions included in the box.

Download the instructions for use

Oral-B® 5% Sodium Fluoride Varnish (Young Dental)

How long should it be left on?
At least 6 hours

What the instructions say:
It is recommended that the patient be instructed to only eat soft foods and drink cold liquids for 2 hours after treatment. After 6 hours, the patient may consume hot drinks or alcohol (mouth rinses), and may brush or floss.

In conclusion:
Avoid for at least 2 hours:

Hard foods

Avoid for at least 6 hours:

Hard foods
Hot drinks
Alcohol (including mouthwash)
Brushing
Flossing

OK right away:

Soft foods
Cold drinks

Download the instructions for use

VOCO Profluorid Varnish (VOCO)

How long should it be left on?
At least 4 hours

What the instructions say:
Instruct patient to avoid hard food, alcohol and brushing for the next 4 hours after application.

In conclusion:
Avoid for at least 4 hours:

Hard foods
Alcohol (including mouthwash)
Brushing
Flossing

OK right away:

Soft foods
Cold drinks
Hot drinks*

*These aren't specifically mentioned in the instructions found online, so we're assuming they're OK right away; however, more information may be found with the instructions included in the box.

Download the instructions for use

Zooby® 5% Sodium Fluoride Varnish (Young Dental)

How long should it be left on?
At least 6 hours

In conclusion:
Avoid for at least 2 hours:

Hard foods

Avoid for at least 6 hours:

Hot drinks
Alcohol (including mouthwash)
Brushing
Flossing

OK right away:

Soft foods
Cold drinks

Download the instructions for use

Waterpik® UltraThin Fluoride Varnish (Waterpik®)

How long should it be left on?
At least 4 hours

What the instructions say:
Instruct the patient to allow varnish to remain in contact with the tooth surfaces for a minimum of 4 hours. For maximum fluoride uptake, the varnish can remain on the teeth overnight and can be brushed off in the morning. It is recommended that the patient be instructed to only eat soft foods and drink cold liquids for 4 hours after treatment. Eating hard foods and brushing/flossing should be avoided during the treatment period.

In conclusion:
Avoid for at least 4 hours:

Hard foods
Hot drinks
Brushing (for best results, let varnish remain on teeth overnight)
Flossing (for best results, let varnish remain on teeth overnight)

OK right away:

Soft foods
Cold drinks

*Most other varnish brands include alcohol avoidance in their instructions, but instructions found online did not; however, more information may be found with the instructions included in the box.

Download the instructions for use

This article has been updated to correct after-care instructions for FluoriMax™ 2.5% Sodium Fluoride Varnish.

What can you eat after a fluoride treatment?

In general, patients are advised to wait 30 minutes after a fluoride treatment before eating or drinking..

Soft foods (applesauce, mashed potatoes, yogurt, bananas, etc).

Soups or liquid foods..

Hard-boiled eggs..

What happens if you eat after fluoride?

Eating Right After Dental Cleaning Hot or cold foods could have more effect than they usually would, and crunchy foods may also not feel great on your gums. This is a normal reaction. Teeth and gums can be more sensitive than normal immediately following a cleaning.

How long after fluoride can I drink iced coffee?

Understanding the cleaning process The fluoride treatment will require time to settle into your teeth and provide the protection they require. A general rule of thumb is to wait for at least 30 to 60 minutes after your teeth cleaning to consume any food or drinks, but you should avoid drinking coffee for a few hours.