Went to dentist and had local anaesthetic applied. How long to wait before I ca!

Went to dentist and had local anaesthetic applied. How long to wait before I can eat and drink?

I know this probably is a minor thing. I went to the dentist to temporarily sort out a bad toothache. He can't quite do anything like a root canal for me because I am at the end of my pregnancy term. I asked him when I can start eating and drinking agan and he said when the anaesthetic wears off. It's now been over 3 hours and I need to eat. Is it actually safe to eat now or do I need to still wait for the anaesthetic to wear off cos I think he's applied a fair bit.

As a dentist myself I can tell you that it is OK for you to start eating and drinking, but please be very careful of hot foods. The Lidocaine that was used to block the nerve in the tooth sometimes takes several hours to wear, especially if extra Lidocaine was injected. If your numbness does not wear off in a couple more hours then you might consider giving your dentist a call, he/she will be able to tell you how much Lidocaine was injected and can give you an estimate of how long it should last. Just be careful and make sure to chew your food very well and take precautions to prevent biting your lip or tongue, so chew very slowly and be mindful of hot foods as these can burn the inside of your mouth where the gums are numb. Good luck with your tooth and your pregnancy!!!