Has your child just received dental sealants? That is great! Sealants are one of the most effective ways to help prevent cavities in children. After this treatment, parents often ask whether it is safe to eat normally after dental sealants. Eating is generally possible, but there is a short waiting period to ensure the sealants are fully set.
Read on to learn when you can eat and foods you can safely enjoy after sealant treatment.
Can You Start Eating Soon After Getting Dental Sealants?
Sealants are applied as thin protective coatings, typically on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. After applying them, dentists use a curing light to harden them. After this step, your child may still need to wait about 30 minutes before eating or drinking anything (other than water).
This gives enough time for the sealants to set. After this time, it’s best to start with soft foods first that are easy to chew.
Remember that sealants are applied to the back teeth. So if you chew something too soon afterward, the direct pressure may affect the sealants before they fully set.
How Long After Sealants Can You Eat Normally?
Generally, children can return to their normal diet after a few hours once the sealants are set. But for the best outcome, many dentists recommend waiting up to 24 hours.
As much as your child feels tempted to have their favorite candy or gum during this time, you’ll have to be more vigilant.
Safe Foods to Eat After Sealants
The wait period to eat after the dental sealant treatment is necessary, but it doesn’t mean your child can’t eat anything. There are still many safe options they can enjoy.
Choose soft foods like mashed potatoes, ice cream, pudding, apple sauce, or scrambled eggs for the first few hours, and then slowly move onto more solid foods. You can also go for soft-cooked pasta or soups.
What Foods Should You Avoid?
At least for the first 24 hours, make sure that your child doesn’t eat hard foods like nuts, hard candies, raw veggies, popcorn kernels, or ice. They should also stay away from sticky foods such as caramel or chewing gum.
These foods can pull on the sealant material, causing it to become loose or break off.
After 24 hours have passed, your child can resume their normal eating habits. However, to maintain these protective coatings, it’s wise to exercise some caution with certain foods over time.
Final Words
To sum up, your child should wait about 30 minutes before eating anything after getting sealants. After this period, they should start off with soft foods and liquids first before moving on to more solid foods.
If you want more specific guidelines related to your child’s dental care, Dr. Neil Dean and his team at KC Kids Dental are here to help! Call us today.
