Do's and Don'ts After Dental Fillings

If you have a cavity, having your dentist place a dental filling is a necessary step to restoring your oral health. Our Selkirk dentists offer you some advice about what you should or shouldn't do after receiving a filling. 

Do be careful about eating after a dental filling.

Depending on the kind of filling placed in your mouth, you may want to be somewhat cautious about what you eat following the filling procedure. Since composite white fillings harden instantly under a special blue light provided by your dentist, you will be able to eat and drink immediately following those procedures. 

Some options for good foods to eat following a tooth filling include soup, scrambled eggs and crackers. Look for food that requires minimal chewing.

If there is pain or swelling in your mouth, however, wait until they decrease before eating anything. 

Dental fillings made from metal take some time to fully harden, so most dentists will advise that you wait at least 24 hours after having one placed in a tooth to eat any solid food. 

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.

You may wish to refrain from cold or hot drinks or foods for a couple of days following your filling procedure. Chewy, sticky or hard foods are also to be avoided for at least two weeks following the procedure. Anything requiring you to take hard bites of something or chew a lot should probably be excluded from your diet. 

You’ll also want to avoid highly acidic foods to prevent infection. 

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

You might notice some discomfort and pain after your filling procedure. Most of the time, this pain and swelling should decrease within 12 hours, After that, you should be able to eat whatever you want without experiencing tooth sensitivity or irritation in the area around you new filling.

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 brush your teeth or floss after a filling.

You actually don't have to wait to floss or brush your teeth after receiving a dental filling! As long as you do so gently and carefully around your tooth with the new filling, 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.

Do you think you might need a filling to treat a cavity? Contact our Selkirk dentists today.

New Patients Always Welcome

Looking for a dentist in Selkirk? We're happily accepting new patients at our dental clinic! Contact us to get started today.

Request Appointment

Hours

  • Monday:08:00 am - 05:00 pm
  • Tuesday:08:00 am - 07:00 pm
  • Wednesday:08:00 am - 07:00 pm
  • Thursday:08:00 am - 05:00 pm
  • Friday:08:00 am - 02:00 pm
  • Saturday:Closed
  • Sunday:Closed
(204) 785-8662