A dental “deep cleaning,” formally known as scaling and root planing, is a non-surgical procedure used to treat gum disease. This treatment removes plaque and hardened calculus from beneath the gumline, targeting the deeper pockets that form due to bacterial infection. You can and should eat a meal before your appointment, but with specific considerations. Eating helps manage blood sugar levels and prepares you for the local anesthesia typically administered during this intensive cleaning.
Eating and Drinking Guidelines
It is generally recommended to have a light, balanced meal about one to two hours before your deep cleaning appointment. Eating prevents a drop in blood sugar, which can cause lightheadedness or nausea during the procedure, especially since the appointment may be lengthy. Maintaining stable blood sugar is particularly important if you have diabetes or experience dental anxiety.
Avoid heavy, high-fat, or overly acidic meals immediately before the procedure, as these can lead to stomach upset or discomfort while reclining in the dental chair. You should also avoid hard, crunchy, or sticky foods that can leave debris difficult to remove quickly before the cleaning begins. Drinking water to stay hydrated is encouraged. If any form of sedation beyond local anesthetic is planned, confirm specific instructions with your dental office.
Safety Considerations for Numbing Agents
Deep cleaning procedures often involve local anesthesia, which is an injection used to numb the gum tissue and teeth to prevent discomfort. This numbing effect typically lasts for several hours after the procedure is complete. The primary reason to limit eating immediately following the procedure is the risk of accidentally biting the numb tissues.
When the lips, tongue, or cheeks are anesthetized, you lose the ability to sense and control your chewing movements accurately, which can lead to significant soft tissue trauma. If the tongue or throat is heavily numbed, the ability to swallow safely can be temporarily impaired. Waiting until full sensation returns is the safest way to prevent injury, which means delaying eating for a few hours after you leave the office.
Essential Pre-Appointment Preparation
A thorough oral hygiene routine just before you arrive is highly recommended. Brushing and flossing meticulously helps to reduce the overall bacterial load in your mouth before the procedure begins. This reduction is important because the deep cleaning process can cause a temporary transfer of bacteria into the bloodstream.
For some patients with specific medical histories, such as those with certain heart conditions or artificial joints, the dentist may prescribe an antibiotic pre-medication to be taken an hour before the appointment. This preventative measure minimizes the risk of infection spreading to other parts of the body. If any form of deeper sedation is planned, arranging for a responsible adult to drive you home is a mandatory safety step, as the effects of sedatives can impair driving ability.