At Lakeland Dental Care in Jackson, Mississippi, we are delighted to offer our patients three filling options: composite (tooth-colored), amalgam (silver), and glass ionomer dental fillings to repair minor to moderate damage to a tooth. After you receive a dental filling, it may take a few hours to a few days for tooth sensitivity to diminish depending on the filling material, but there are things you can do to help your tooth adjust to this sensitivity.
What to Avoid
When you bite down hard on something it can make the teeth sore where the new filling was placed. Chew on the other side of the mouth from the filling, but if you do chew on it, chew carefully, and avoid biting down all the way until the anesthesia wears off. You don’t want to accidentally bite your tongue, or cheek or lip while the area is still numb.
Temperature affects tooth sensitivity so avoid chewing with your mouth open to prevent cold air from touching the newly filled tooth. You will also want to avoid hot or cold drinks that could increase this sensitivity.
Avoid sticky foods for those first few days after your filling, as well as hard food such as nuts, hard candy, granola bars, raw carrots, etc. Composite white fillings set right away so you can usually chew on them once the anesthesia has fully worn off.
If you have any questions or concerns about a filling, or if it is time for your next dental checkup and cleaning, please give our team a call. To schedule a visit with Dr. Abernathy or Dr. Santarufo please call our Lakeland Dental Care team in Jackson, Mississippi at 601-981-8166 today!