What are your emergency hours?

Business hours: 8am, 5pm Monday, Thursday. After-hours: voicemail routes to the on-call doctor. For life-threatening emergencies, call 911.

Can I come in without an appointment?

Please call first, we'll almost certainly see you, but calling ahead means the right doctor and equipment are ready.

What if I'm not a current patient?

We see emergency patients we've never met before. If you become a regular after, great, no obligation.

Does insurance cover emergency visits?

Most dental plans cover an emergency exam and X-ray. Any treatment beyond that is covered per your plan's rules, we verify before we start.

Should I go to the ER instead?

Go to the ER if there's facial swelling affecting breathing or swallowing, uncontrolled bleeding, or trauma with possible head injury.

What counts as a true dental emergency?

Severe tooth pain that keeps you awake, a knocked-out permanent tooth, a cracked or broken tooth with sharp pain, uncontrolled bleeding after an extraction, a lost crown or filling leaving the tooth exposed, and swelling in the face or jaw that is spreading. If swelling involves the eye or throat or you have trouble breathing, go to the emergency room first and call us after.

How much does an emergency dental visit cost in Provo?

Emergency exam and X-ray typically runs between $150 and $250 before any treatment. Treatment cost depends on what is needed. A simple filling, a crown, a root canal, or an extraction all price differently. We give you the number for the treatment plan before you say yes, and we accept most PPO insurance plans along with CareCredit financing.

What should I do if a tooth is knocked out?

Pick the tooth up by the crown, not the root. Rinse it gently with milk or saline if it is dirty. Do not scrub it. Try to place the tooth back in the socket and bite down on a piece of gauze. If you cannot replant it, put the tooth in a cup of milk and get to our office within 60 minutes. The faster the tooth is back in place, the better the chance it survives long-term.

When Should You Brush Your Teeth After Eating?

Updated October 15, 2026

After acidic foods or drinks, rinse your mouth with water and wait about 60 minutes before you brush. Acid softens the surface of your enamel for a while, and brushing right away can wear some of it off. Waiting gives saliva time to neutralize the acid.

Quick answers

How long should you wait to brush after eating?

About 60 minutes after acidic foods or drinks such as soda, sports drinks, citrus, or sour candy. Rinse with water in the meantime.

Should you brush right after eating?

Not right after anything acidic. If you want your mouth to feel clean sooner, rinse with water.

What if I can only brush right after breakfast?

Brush before breakfast instead, then rinse with water after you eat. That way you get the fluoride benefit without brushing softened enamel.

Why waiting helps

Acid from food and drinks pulls minerals out of the outer layer of your teeth and leaves it softer for a while. Saliva gradually neutralizes the acid and helps put minerals back. Brushing during that softened window can scrub away a little enamel each time, and enamel does not grow back.

Foods and drinks to be careful with

Soda, sports drinks, and energy drinks
Citrus fruits and citrus-flavored drinks
Frequent fruit juice
Sour candy

A simple daily routine

Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste for about two minutes.
Clean between your teeth once a day.
Rinse with water after meals, snacks, and acidic drinks.
Wait about an hour after anything acidic before brushing.
Drink still water between meals instead of sipping sweet or acidic drinks.

Want to know which foods help your teeth most? Read foods that are good for your teeth, or see how acid wears teeth in our guide to enamel erosion.

Talk it through at your next visit

At Advanced Dental Care in Provo, cleanings and exams include time with a hygienist who can look at your own risk and help you adjust your habits. Request an appointment or call (801) 758-2443.

Related guides

Sources and further reading

Adapted from the Advanced Dental Care Nutrition and Oral Health patient guide. Aligned with ADA guidance; not an ADA publication.

This guide is general education from Advanced Dental Care in Provo, Utah. It is not a substitute for advice from your own dentist or physician.

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Your dentist and hygienist can tailor this advice to your teeth, your health, and your habits.

Request an Appointment New Patients: (801) 758-2443