The Do's and Don'ts After Dental Fillings

If you have a cavity, your dentist will have to place a dental filling. Our dentists at Odyssey Dental Care in Winnipeg share a few things that you should and should not do after getting a dental filling.

Do be careful of what you eat after a dental filling.

Based on the type of filling that you got, you might want to be careful about what you eat right after the filling procedure. Composite white fillings harden immediately under the blue light your dentist uses so, you can eat and drink directly following this procedure is over.

A few good options for foods to eat after a tooth filling include soup, scrambled eggs, cracker and other foods that requires minimal chewing.

However, 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 suggest 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 most likely want to wait until the local anesthetic wears off before trying to eat. Ask your dentist how long he thinks you should wait after your filling to start eating.

Don't eat sticky, hard or chewy foods for up to two weeks.

You should avoid hot or cold drinks and foods for a few days following a dental filling.  Also do not eat sticky, hard or chewy foods or anything that requires you to take hard bites and chew a lot (such as meat) for up to two weeks.

Also refrain from eating highly acidic foods to prevent infection. 

Do take over-the-counter painkillers if you feel any pain, discomfort or tooth sensitivity after a filling.

You might experience some mild to moderate discomfort and pain after a filling. Most 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.

To alleviate any physical pain or discomfort following a dental filling take over-the-counter painkillers with ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

If the, pain, sensitivity or discomfort does not go away after 24 hours, contact your dentist to book an appointment to check on your filling, to make sure an 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 have a persistent toothache

Though you might 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 require a root canal. Contact your dentist, who can address it for you promptly.

If you need to schedule a dental hygiene appointment contact our dentists in Winnipeg today.