Filling can i eat

We are always here to help. Why do I need to see a dentist every six months? Click here. How do cavities happen? Why are my teeth so sensitive?

What are the benefits of receiving regular fluoride treatments? What vitamins are best for oral health? What are the benefits of wearing a night guard? The reason is that silver amalgam fillings require a long time - around a day - to harden completely. If you eat or drink anything before that, there are chances that you chip or fracture the restoration - requiring a root canal if the tooth is not restored timely.

Today, as aesthetics have become more important, patients prefer white, composite fillings over the amalgam fillings. Not only are the white fillings aesthetically more pleasant, but they offer another advantage; they harden very quickly. Since composite fillings harden very quickly, there is no harm if you resume eating and drinking immediately after getting one. However, the swelling and pain around the tooth may create difficulty in chewing your food optimally.

Therefore, dentists normally advise patients to wait for at least two hours before they eat or drink anything after getting a composite dental filling. Amalgam fillings take longer to set completely. That is why dentists ask their patients to avoid eating anything hard or sticky from the side where the filling has been placed.

We share some recommended tips for eating following a tooth filling. Along with waiting for your filling to properly set, other things that can affect eating post-filling include:. Your dentist will most likely administer a local anesthetic to reduce pain during the filling procedure.

Eating before this numbing agent has worn off may cause you to accidentally bite your tongue, cheeks, or lips. Numbing typically wears off in 1 to 3 hours. Your dentist may recommend an over-the-counter pain medication such as ibuprofen to make you more comfortable. During your procedure, the gum tissue near the tooth being filled may become irritated, resulting in soreness. This may affect your comfort level in chewing on that side of your mouth for a few days.

Teeth may be sensitive to heat and cold for a few days to a week or two after getting a dental filling. Your dentist will be able to advise you of the right course of action before you leave the practice. If you encounter any problems following your procedure, you should contact your dentist immediately. In the long run, you should maintain practicing good oral hygiene methods every day. This can be done through:.

By maintaining good oral hygiene, you can provide your teeth and filling with a good clean while removing any plaque or bacteria build up. If you require a filling on the Gold Coast, contact one of our friendly practices to find out how our dentists can help. What are you looking for? How long after a filling can I eat?