Dental Filling Post-Operative Instructions
How to Care for Your Teeth After a Filling
Receiving a Dental Filling is an important step in maintaining a healthy smile. Fillings help repair teeth damaged by decay, cracks, or trauma. To ensure your recovery is smooth and the filling lasts, follow these simple post-operative instructions.
Oral Hygiene
Proper oral hygiene is key to preventing future cavities and keeping your new filling intact. Here’s what you should do:
- Brush Twice Daily: Brushing at least twice a day—morning and night—is essential. Ideally, brush after every meal to minimize the risk of plaque buildup around your filling. This helps prevent further decay.
- Rinse with Water or Mouthwash: If brushing after meals isn’t possible, rinse your mouth with water or an antibacterial mouthwash to remove food particles. This reduces the chances of cavities forming around your filling. We recommend Crest Pro-Health Densify Anticavity Fluoride Mouth Rinse for added protection.
- Use a Soft-Bristled Toothbrush: To avoid irritation, opt for a soft-bristled toothbrush, like the Curaprox CS5460 Ultra Soft Swiss Toothbrush. Electric toothbrushes, such as the Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 6100, are even more effective at removing plaque.
- Floss Daily: Flossing helps clean areas your toothbrush can’t reach, especially between teeth. We recommend GUM ButlerWeave Dental Floss or Sunstar GUM Advanced Care Flossers for easy use. You may also consider interdental brushes for a more thorough clean.
- Consider a Water Flosser: Adding a water flosser, like the Waterpik Aquarius, to your routine can significantly improve your oral hygiene by flushing out debris in hard-to-reach places.
- Use Anticavity Toothpaste and Mouthwash: Opt for a toothpaste with high fluoride content, such as Colgate PreviDent 5000 ppm Booster Plus, to protect your teeth and fillings from new cavities. Pair this with a fluoride-rich mouthwash for added defense.
Food and Drink
After your filling, you can eat normally, but keep these tips in mind:
- Avoid Biting Hard Foods with Front Teeth: If your filling is on a front tooth, avoid biting into hard foods like apples or nuts to prevent it from chipping.
- Limit Sugary Foods: Foods and drinks high in refined sugars increase the risk of cavities around your fillings. Try to reduce your intake of sugary snacks, candies, and sodas.
8 Foods & Drinks That Are Bad For Your Teeth: Visit our blog post on the most common foods and drinks that will destroy your teeth.
Numbness
The local anesthetic will wear off within 2-3 hours. Until then, avoid hot liquids and be cautious when chewing to prevent biting your lips or tongue.
Jaw Soreness
In some cases, local anesthetic injections can cause muscle discomfort, leading to difficulty opening your jaw. This condition, known as myogenic trismus, usually resolves on its own. If you experience jaw pain or tightness, read more about managing myogenic trismus here.
Sensitivity and Pain
It’s common to have some sensitivity to hot and cold for a day or two after your filling. You can use a desensitizing toothpaste like Sensodyne Rapid Relief to reduce discomfort. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) can also help. If you’re unsure about the dosage, consult your dentist.
If sensitivity or pain persists after a few weeks, contact us for further evaluation, especially if your filling was placed deep near the tooth nerve.
Regular Checkups and Cleanings
To maintain the health of your fillings and prevent future issues, it’s important to:
- Schedule Regular Dental Visits: We recommend seeing your dentist at least once a year for a checkup and every six months for professional teeth cleanings. This helps us monitor your filling and spot any potential issues early.
- Bite Adjustments: If your bite feels uneven or if your filling feels too high, let us know. We’ll adjust it free of charge to ensure comfort.
Questions or Concerns?
If you have any questions about your dental filling or need additional assistance, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to ensure you enjoy a comfortable recovery and maintain excellent oral health.
