You might be so tired of pain that you're eager to have a cavity filled. However, once the composite or amalgam filling has been put into your mouth, you might be ready to get back to regular eating and drinking habits. Heed the following aftercare tips for your filling so that you don't do anything to dislodge it or cause more discomfort for yourself.
Consider Ibuprofen
You may be disturbed to experience pain after your filling because pain may be a reason that you got the filling in the first place. It's not unlikely for pain to persist, however, due to all the tinkering and packing that the dentist did to insert your filling. Soreness is not uncommon, so if you feel that in the hours following the procedure, check with your dentist that it's okay to take an anti-inflammatory, over-the-counter medication like ibuprofen. Follow medication directions.
Avoid Crunchy or Sticky Foods
Pressure exerted on teeth while chewing crunchy items like nuts, candy, chips and ice can be considerable. In fact, your filling can pop out while you're enjoying one of those foods. You might have thought the filling would allow you to eat normally again, but you need to let the filling set for a few days; then you can tackle those crunchy foods.
Sticky foods should be put off as well. Sticky things like gum can adhere to the filling and pull it out as you chew.
Remain Cautious of Sugar
The cavity that had to be filled was formed as oral acid ate away at tooth enamel. The acid is caused by the bacteria in your mouth digesting the sugar in the beverages you drank and food you ate. Bad dental habits may have allowed bacteria to spread, and over time the leftover acids wore down your tooth. Therefore, you want to be careful about enabling that cycle again. For that reason, you may want to begin minimizing the sugar in your diet. This, paired with excellent dental care, will prevent additional cavities and stop further decay around and underneath the filling.
Your filling solves a dental problem you had, but only your actions can ensure that a new filling won't cause additional oral trouble. If you feel like something's amiss or your filling seems to come out, make a call to your dentist's office. They may ask you to drop in to have a look and fix any problems.
For more information, contact a business such as Hot Smile Dental.
Share12 February 2018
I have always brushed and flossed my teeth daily, but I still had the occasional cavity when I visited the dentist for a check-up. He told me it was normal to have a cavity on occasion and that I shouldn't let it stress me out too much. Well, I am not one to just accept any problem I am having, so I started looking into how to improve my oral hygiene even more. I had always thought mouthwash was just to improve your breath, but I found some that said they helped keep cavities away. I started using one every day before bed. I haven't had a cavity in two years now, and I think the mouth rinse is the reason! I created this blog to remind other people that even if they brush and floss regularly, they can always find ways to take even better care of their teeth.
