Your Delta Invisalign® Provider
If you have a cavity, having a dental filling placed by your dentist is a necessary procedure. Our Delta dentists offer some advice about what you should and should not do after a filling.
Do be careful about eating after a dental filling.
Depending on the type of filling that you received, you may want to be cautious about what you eat immediately following the procedure. Because composite white fillings harden instantly under the blue light your dentist uses, you can eat and drink immediately following the procedure. Talk to your dentist about any restrictions for your type of filling.
If your dentist recommends a softer diet, some options for good foods to eat post-filling include soup, scrambled eggs, and pasta. Look for food that requires minimal chewing.
If there is pain and swelling, wait until it decreases before eating.
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, hard, or chewy foods for up to two weeks.
Along with sticky or hard foods (which can break a new filling), you'll also want to refrain from things that require a lot of chewing, such as a tough cut of meat, for up to two weeks.
You’ll also want to avoid highly acidic foods as these can increase your risk of infection.
Do take over-the-counter painkillers if you notice pain, discomfort, or tooth sensitivity after a filling.
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.
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 and ensure that infection is not developing.
Don't hesitate to brush your teeth or floss after a 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 dentist if you experience a persistent toothache
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.