Do's and Don'ts After Dental Fillings

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

While composite fillings allow you the opportunity to eat immediately after having a dental filling, not every filling is made the same. Speak with your dentist about when you will be able to eat after your appointment.

Once you are allowed to eat you should try to stick to soft foods. Look for food that requires minimal chewing.

On the other hand, 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.

Don't partake in hard or sticky treats after a filling.

It is possible that your tooth will be feeling sensitive after a filling and so should avoid cold or hot beverages until the sensitivity subsides. Sticky, hard or chewy foods are also a no-no - for up to two weeks. Anything that will require you to take hard bites and chew a lot - such as meat - is probably out.

In order to avoid infection you will also want to avoid highly acidic foods.

Do keep up with pain medication as recommended and needed.

You will likely have some pain or swelling after the dental filling. Be sure to follow your dentist's care instructions including taking pain medications as suggested. 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 forget to brush twice daily and floss.

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 persistent pain.

While you can expect a certain degree of pain, you should contact your dentist if there seems to be a consistent throbbing in the tooth. You may need a root canal. Contact your dentist, who can address it for you promptly.

Would you like to request an appointment for routine dental care? Please contact our Windsor dentists today.