Getting dental fillings is quite common, but some patients may not know what they should or should not do after they leave the dental office with a new filling. In this blog post, our experts at Dental One Care in Sterling Heights, MI, share some do’s and don’ts after a dental cleaning to help you achieve optimal oral health.

Pain After Getting a Filling

Dr. Fadi Farhat, the best dentist in Sterling Heights MI, has found that many people who experience pain after getting a filling do so because that filling was placed too high. If you notice that the filling isn’t at the same level as your other teeth when you speak, chew or move your jaw, contact Dental One Care so that the filling can be reshaped or filed down. Otherwise, high fillings don’t only cause pain but also have a higher risk of cracking.

Pain in Nearby Teeth

After getting a dental filling, you may feel some pain in the nearby teeth. This is normal and doesn’t in any way indicate that those nearby teeth have a problem. In most cases, Dr. Fadi Farhat says that such pain is the result of signals being sent by the tooth with the filling. This pain subsides typically overnight, so you should only be concerned if it exceeds this duration.

Sensitivity After Getting a Dental Filling

You are also likely to experience some sensitivity to hot or cold within the first three weeks after getting a dental filling at Dental One Care. This sensitivity is especially likely if the cavity was deep. To deal with the sensitivity, Dr. Fadi Farhat may recommend that you use a desensitizing toothpaste. It is also helpful for you to avoid consuming very hot or cold substances within those first couple of weeks until you get used to the filling.

Toothache After the Procedure

It isn’t normal to experience a toothache after getting a dental filling. If you do, contact Dr. Fadi Farhat at Dental One Care in Sterling Heights, MI. Our friend Dr. Beth Herko, a dentist in New Providence, NJ, says that the toothache may indicate that the decay was so pronounced that it had reached the dental pulp, so a root canal may be necessary to address the issue. 

Dealing with Future Cavities

It is possible to develop other cavities on the same tooth that has a filling or on the other teeth in your mouth. If you ever develop signs, such as tooth sensitivity, contact Dr. Fadi Farhat so that he can assess your condition and determine whether dental fillings are the best option for you, or other dental filling alternatives would be a better choice in the circumstances.

What to Eat After Getting a Filling

Depending on what type of filling you got, Dr. Fadi Farhat will recommend what or when to eat after the procedure. For example, you may eat immediately if a composite filling was used. This is because such fillings are cured using a special light, so there is no risk if you eat shortly after getting the filling. 

However, metal fillings don’t harden as fast, so you may have to wait for about 24 hours before you can safely eat solid food. Regardless of the filling you get, wait until the anesthetic wears off before you eat. Otherwise, you could hurt yourself if you try to eat before the local anesthetic has worn off.

Foods to Avoid After the Procedure

Dental One Care strongly recommends that you avoid eating any chewy, hard, or sticky foods for 24 hours. Staying away from cold and hot foods may also be advisable if you experience tooth sensitivity after the dental filling procedure. 

OTC Painkillers

You may also have to use an over-the-counter pain medication, such as Ibuprofen if you experience slight discomfort or pain after getting a dental filling. However, if the pain is severe or persists, bring it to the attention of Dr. Fafdi Farhat for an appropriate remedy.

Do you suspect that you have dental cavities or you were recently diagnosed with this problem? Contact Dental One Care if you live in Sterling Heights, MI. Our highly skilled and experienced professionals will recommend the best remedy to fix the problem before it gets worse and requires more invasive treatment.