Your Peterborough Invisalign® Provider
A dental filling is a procedure that you will require in order to protect your teeth if your dentist finds a cavity. Our Peterborough dentists discuss the things that you should and should not do after having a dental filling.
Do be careful with what you eat after a dental filling.
While it depends on the type of filling your dentist utilized, you will want to be careful about what foods you choose to eat after a dental filling procedure. If your dentist used composite white fillings you can begin to eat and drink as usual as these fillings harden instantly under the blue light your dentist uses.
Some options for good foods to eat following a tooth filling include soup, scrambled eggs and crackers. Any food that requires little to no chewing is a good option for after you receive dental fillings.
Although if you are experiencing pain and swelling then you should wait until your mouth is feeling better before you begin to eat.
Metal dental fillings take a bit of time to harden, so most dentists will recommend waiting at least 24 hours after receiving the dental filling to eat any solid foods.
To avoid biting your lips, cheek, or tongue, you will likely want to wait until the local anesthetic wears off before attempting to eat. Ask your dentist for advice about when is the best time to eat after your filling.
Don't eat sticky or hard-to-chew foods for at least two weeks.
Foods that are of extreme temperatures such as quite hot or cold, should be avoided for the first few days. Sticky, hard or chewy foods are also not recommended for the first couple of weeks after the procedure. Anything that will require you to take hard bites and chew a lot - such as meat - is probably out.
You’ll also want to avoid highly acidic foods to prevent infection.
Do take painkillers if you experience pain after a filling.
It is completely normal to experience some slight pain or swelling after you have a dental filling procedure. The majority of the time, you should notice that pain and swelling decrease within 12 hours and you can eat whatever you want without experiencing tooth sensitivity, or irritation around the area.
Take over-the-counter painkillers with ibuprofen or acetaminophen to alleviate any physical pain or discomfort after a dental filling.
In the event, pain, sensitivity or discomfort do not disappear after 24 hours, contact your dentist to schedule an appointment to check on your filling, to ensure that infection is not developing.
Don't hesitate to thoroughly clean your teeth after a filling.
Did you know that you don’t have to wait to brush your teeth or floss after a dental filling? You can begin to brush and floss as usual as long as you are taking care to be relatively gentle since you may be tender.
Do contact your dentist as soon as possible if you have tooth pain.
Though it's true that you may feel some mild pain or discomfort, a persistent sharp or throbbing toothache can indicate that the decay has reached your tooth's pulp. You may need a root canal. Contact your dentist, who can address it for you promptly.