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Watch what you eat after a dental filling.
Whether or not you are able to eat right after a dental filling will depend on the type of filling your dentist used. Because composite white fillings harden instantly under the blue light your dentist uses, you can eat and drink immediately following the procedure.
Some options for good foods to eat following a tooth filling include soup, scrambled eggs and crackers. Look for food that requires minimal chewing.
You may still choose to wait until any pain or swelling has diminished before trying to eat anything.
Metal dental fillings take a bit of time to harden, so most dentists will recommend waiting at least 24 hours after receiving the dental filling to eat any solid foods.
To avoid biting your lips, cheek, or tongue, you will likely want to wait until the local anesthetic wears off before attempting to eat. Ask your dentist for advice about when is the best time to eat after your filling.
Wait two weeks before you start to eat chewy or hard foods.
You may want to refrain from hot or cold drinks and foods for a few days following a dental filling. Sticky, hard or chewy foods are also a no-no - for up to two weeks. Anything that will require you to take hard bites and chew a lot - such as meat - is probably out.
You’ll also want to avoid highly acidic foods to prevent infection.
Take pain medication as prescribed when necessary.
You may notice some mild to moderate discomfort and pain following the filling. The majority of the time, you should notice that pain and swelling decrease within 12 hours and you can eat whatever you want without experiencing tooth sensitivity, or irritation around the area.
If you have any pain after having a dental filling then you should take pain relief medication as recommended.
In the event, pain, sensitivity or discomfort do not disappear after 24 hours, contact your dentist to schedule an appointment to check on your filling, to ensure that infection is not developing.
Brush your teeth after a filling (just be gentle).
You may be wondering if you are able to brush your teeth after you have a dental filling placed. The answer is yes! As long as you brush gently and floss carefully around the tooth, you should be able to keep the area clean as usual.
Get in touch with your dentist if you have persistent pain.
While you can expect some amount of discomfort after you've had a dental filling, the area will be irritated after all. but ongoing or severe pain is not normal and you should contact your dentist if it happens.