Do's and Don'ts After Dental Fillings

Do watch what you choose to eat after a dental filling.

So you just had a dental filling, what now? If you have a composite filling done then you should be pretty safe to get back to your usual eating habits right afterward thanks to the curing light.

While you aren't very restricted after a dental filling you should still look into eating soft and easy-to-chew foods for the first little while.

Waiting until the pain you experience settles might also be recommended before you begin to eat again.

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 hard-to-chew or super sticky foods for two weeks.

You should avoid foods or beverages that are really hot or really cold in order to avoid the sensitivity that you may experience. For the first two weeks you should also not have anything that is sticky or hard to chew. 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 prescription pain medication if you experience any dental pain.

You may notice some mild to moderate discomfort and pain following the filling. 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 put off tooth brushing and flossing after having a dental filling.

Did you know that you don’t have to wait to brush your teeth or floss after a dental filling? As long as you brush gently and floss carefully around the tooth, you should be able to keep the area clean as usual.

Do contact your dentists if something doesn't seem right.

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.

Are you in need of a routine preventive hygiene appointment or restorative care? Please contact our Ajax dentists today.