Foods You Can or Cannot Have after Dental Fillings

Foods You Can or Cannot Have after Dental Fillings

May 1, 2021

Getting dental fillings to treat a cavity is a routine dental procedure. Placement of the dental filling is accomplished by the dentist near me after removing the decay in your tooth and cleaning the hollow space. You will likely experience some pain and discomfort during the procedure, which is normal. However, you receive local anesthesia to ensure you are comfortable when the dentist works on your tooth.

If you visit the dentist in Breckenridge for dental cleanings and exams and the dentist discovers a cavity in your tooth, they recommend having it restored promptly with dental fillings. The dentist’s recommendation will wake you up from your complacency, making you think why you had neglected your oral hygiene and allowed the cavity is to develop in your mouth. However, the damage created by the hole is non-reversible and permanent. Getting a dental filling is an optimal method of preventing further damage to your teeth.

The mention of having dental fillings will bring questions into your mind about the foods you can or cannot eat after the filling procedure. This blog provides all the information you need on dental fillings and your mind questions, helping you go ahead with the treatment without further delay.

Will You Experience Pain during the Procedure?

The filling procedure requires the dentist to drill through your tooth to remove the decay within your tooth. You receive local anesthesia from the dentist, who applies a topical anesthetic to ensure you don’t feel the injection’s pinch.

After your tooth is entirely numb, the dentist drills through the tooth to remove the decay and prepare the hollow space for the filling. The open area is disinfected to ensure no debris remains behind when placing the filling. If you have a front tooth filled, you will likely receive tooth-colored composite resin fillings for aesthetic appearance. If you need the filling on a molar, you will likely receive silver amalgam fillings for their durability and strength. The filling you receive will determine which foods you can or cannot have after the procedure and for how long.

Cosmetic dentistry near me provides specific instructions for you to follow regarding what you can eat and when. Some types of fillings require you to wait for some time, while others don’t impose any restrictions on you.

Food Shouldn’t Be Your Only Concern after Getting Dental Fillings

Besides waiting for your fillings to be correctly set, other variables can affect your eating after the filling process. They are the local anesthesia you receive to reduce pain during the filling procedure because eating before the numbing agent has worn off can cause you to bite your tongue, cheeks, or lips accidentally.

You may experience some discomfort after getting the tooth filled, affecting your appetite. In such cases, dentists recommend over-the-counter painkillers to make you comfortable. You may also experience soreness in your gums affecting your comfort level when chewing. You can use warm salt water as a rinse to help your gums feel better.

Foods to Have or Avoid after Dental Fillings

The foods you can have after the dental filling procedure depends on the filling you receive. If you have chosen composite resin fillings, the material hardens instantly under the ultraviolet light the dentist uses. The hardening allows you to eat or drink immediately after the procedure so long as you are mindful of the numbness in your mouth.

Silver amalgam fillings require more time to harden and the Breckenridge dentist recommends you wait for at least 24 hours before having solid foods.

It would be best to avoid sticky, chewy, or hard foods after getting dental fillings for up to two weeks. If you experience tooth sensitivity, you benefit from avoiding hot or cold beverages and foods.

You don’t need to wait to begin maintaining excellent dental hygiene immediately after getting dental fillings. Remember, the need for dental fillings was because you did not maintain proper oral hygiene. Therefore, it is ideal for changing your oral hygiene regimen and beginning paying more attention to your dental health. Allowing plaque buildup to accumulate on your teeth by neglecting proper brushing and flossing will undoubtedly take you back to the dentist near you with more cavities needing fillings or even intensive treatments. Instead of using dental fillings as a solution to combat tooth decay, why not maintain proper dental hygiene to prevent tooth decay altogether?

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