Do not eat anything for eight hours before surgery. This is a common rule: if your surgery is in the morning do not eat after midnight the night before surgery. This rule applies even if you have a local anesthetic. If you eat or drink even small amounts, your doctor may cancel your surgery. This is for your own safety. If you have food in your stomach and you vomit, some of that food may enter your lungs. This is a very serious complication. So no matter how tempted you are, do not eat or drink before surgery. It is a good idea to eat a nourishing diet for a week or two before surgery. Consider increasing your vitamin C intake. Do not go on a strict diet in the weeks before your operation.
Do not chew gum before surgery because this can increase fluid in the stomach which can be dangerous.