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Steps To Take If You Lose A Filling

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Your dental fillings are intended to stay in place a long time, but they can come out. When this happens, your tooth will no longer be protected. When a filling falls out it may also allow the nerve of the tooth to become exposed. An exposed nerve can be very painful. You want to call your dentist as soon as the filling falls out and make an appointment to get in as quickly as possible. You'll also want to follow the tips below until you can get in to the dentist.

Keeping your mouth clean

Now that your filling is no longer protecting your tooth, food particles can easily make their way in the hole of your tooth. You can help keep this from becoming a problem by going the extra mile to keep your mouth as clean as you can by following these tips:

  • Rinse with water after you eat anything
  • Use a water flosser to spray water directly in the tooth
  • Brush gently in the morning, before bed and any time you eat something sweet or high in acid
  • Use mouthwash diligently before bed
  • Chew sugarless gum to help pull trapped food from the cavity

Dealing with tooth sensitivity

If you're experiencing tooth sensitivity after you lose your filling, you want to do what you can to lessen the pain. Stay away from foods and drinks that are hot or cold. Don't eat anything that has a good deal of sugar in it. Also, foods with a high amount of acids in them, such as citrus fruits, can cause more pain.

Covering the filling

If it's going to be a few days before your dentist will be able to get you in, you'll want to do your best to cover the filing. This will help keep food particles from making their way in the cavity. You can purchase an over-the-counter filling material at most grocery stores and pharmacies. You will place the filling material in the cavity with your tooth. It will harden after a few minutes. This material is intended for temporary use only, so you will still need the dentist to replace your permanent filling.

Get in to see your dentist as soon as you can so you can have the filling put back in. If you have a 24 hour dentist, like Hernandez Dental, near you and you are experiencing a good deal of pain, then you should consider going in immediately.


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