What Happens after a Dental Filling

At Smile Time Family Dentistry in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Dr. Wendy McCurdy and her team are pleased to offer our patients tooth-colored dental fillings, or composite fillings, to repair minor to moderate damage in a tooth. Fillings can be done for teeth that have decay, are chipped or fractured. Once a tooth has been filled it may take a few hours to a few days for tooth sensitivity to diminish, but there are some things you can do while your tooth is adjusting to the new filling during this time.

What You Should Avoid

— Biting down hard can make the tooth sore where the new filling was placed. It helps to chew on the other side of the mouth from the new filling, as well as chewing carefully in the beginning. Avoid biting down all the way until the anesthesia wears off, so that you don’t accidentally bite your tongue, cheek or lip if the area is still numb.

— Avoiding sticky and hard foods in the first few days after your filling will also help. This means holding off on sugary, sticky foods along with hard candy, nuts, granola bars, and raw vegetables like carrots and celery.

— Chewing with your mouth open can cause tooth sensitivity as the cold air touches the newly filled tooth. If your newly restored tooth is sensitive at this time, you will also want to avoid hot or cold drinks until the sensitivity subsides.

At Smile Time Family Dentistry in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, we are happy to restore your damaged tooth with a tooth-colored composite filling. So if it is time for your next visit with our dedicated dentist, Dr. Wendy McCurdy, please give our caring team a call at 601-583-2000 today!