Dental Fillings Aftercare

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AUGUST 22, 2025

Dental Fillings Aftercare

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After receiving a dental filling, proper care is essential to ensure comfort,
prevent complications, and prolong the lifespan of the restoration.

Table of Contents

Do’s
Don’ts
Chew on the opposite side of your mouth whenever possible.

Avoid very sticky, chewy, or hard foods
(e.g., caramel, gum, nuts, ice).
Brush and floss as usual but take special care around the filled tooth.

Do not use the newly filled tooth to bite hard objects
(e.g., fingernails, pen caps).

Eat softer foods for the first few hours

Avoid poking the treated gums with your tongue or fingers.

While You Are Still Numb

  • Numbness usually wears off in a few hours — don’t be alarmed if it lasts a bit longer.
  • Do not bite or pinch your lip, tongue, or cheek to “test” numbness.
    • To check if the numbness is gone, gently graze both sides of your lips — they should feel the same.
  • Avoid eating until the numbness has completely worn off as you can accidentally bite your lip, tongue and/ or cheek which can lead to painful ulcers, chips or fracture of your teeth or existing fillings.
  • Drink only room temperature or cold water during this time.

For the Remainder of the Day

  • Avoid chewing on the filled tooth for at least a few hours (or as advised by your dentist), especially if a composite (tooth-coloured) or temporary filling was placed.
  • Eat soft foods and avoid anything sticky, hard, or crunchy (e.g., chewing gum, nuts, ice, caramel, popcorn)
  • Use a night guard if you grind or clench your teeth — this protects against chips, cracks, and wear.
    • Not wearing a night guard may result in damage to the new filling or even your natural teeth.

Bite Sensitivity

  • Report any bite discomfort immediately after treatment as lingering numbness may prevent you from noticing bite changes.
  • Ignoring a “high bite” sensation can lead to discomfort and affect long-term function.

Diet

  • Resume a normal diet once numbness is gone.
  • While numb, you may have soft, room temperature or cold foods like yoghurt or ice cream.
  • After numbness subsides:
    • Avoid food that may get stuck or cause irritation — no seeds, nuts, popcorn, sticky or hard foods until your final crown has been permanently cemented.
  • Failure to follow may cause the filling to fracture or dislodge.

Oral Hygiene

  • Brush twice daily near the gum line.
    • We recommend the Philips Sonicare electric toothbrush.
  • Continue to floss daily.
  • Use fluoride toothpaste to strengthen enamel and prevent secondary decay.

⚠ Emergency Situations (Call Us Immediately)

Call our clinic immediately if:

  • You experience severe pain or swelling.
  • You are experiencing sensitivity that worsens over time.
  • Your new filling loosens or breaks:
    • Return to our clinic promptly. This prevents complications and extra costs.
  • Delaying treatment for a loose or broken filling can lead to:
    • Secondary decay to the tooth.
    • Cracking or fracturing of the tooth due to loss of protection and reduced structural support.