Archive for September, 2008

Post Operative Instructions for Prevora

Thursday, September 11th, 2008

Hi everybody,

Recently we received a question from a patient through the Prevora website asking about what steps they can take in order to comply with the treatment protocol of Prevora. Below is their question and the response that they received.

Question: How do I care for my teeth throughout this process? Are there foods or liquids I should avoid? What about smoking, kissing or coffee?

You asked about care of your teeth while under protection with Prevora. That’s easy:

  • Avoid brushing your teeth 24 hours after a Prevora application — let the coating bond to your teeth and do its job
  • Avoid flossing for 3 days after a Prevora application ¾ again, in order to not remove the coating from in between your teeth
  • Resume brushing your teeth with a new tooth brush to avoid contaminating your mouth the bacteria on your old tooth brush
  • Avoid hard foods (a crusty roll, an apple) in the first 4 hours after treatment-you don’t want to remove the coating that was just put on the teeth
  • Avoid sugary or acidic drinks (Coke, coffee, lemonade, orange juice) until 4 hours after treatment.

And that’s it. Otherwise, you can follow your regular diet and oral hygiene.

As for Smoking? That’s a risk factor for tooth decay at the gum line which scientists are just beginning to understand. Essentially, smoking shrinks the gums and exposes your tooth’s roots to the bacteria which puts them at risk.

Kissing? Always encouraged, even during Prevora!! But you raise an interesting point. The bacteria that causes tooth decay is communicated from mother to child when the child is very young. This cross-infection is minimal, however, after early childhood this doesn’t take place because our oral ecology becomes too complex later in life, to allow for it. There are no studies that I am aware of, to show that kissing amongst adults or amongst parents and their older children, leads to tooth decay.

As for coffee, as listed above you want to avoid drinking it immediately after your application of Prevora but within a few hours you can have that much needed cup of Joe.

Thanks again for the great questions.
Take care

Tyler