How To Take Care Of Your Temporary Filling

There are many reasons why a dentist may place a temporary dental filling. Maybe you just had a root canal, or maybe you are waiting for a gold filling or crown to be made for a problem tooth. Whatever the reason, if you have such a dental filling, you are probably wondering what you can and cannot do until your tooth is permanently fixed.

Since the filling is temporary, it seems pretty obvious that it needs to come out more easily than a regular filling, so how do you make sure it stays in place until your next dental visit?

Watch What You Chew

Your dentist will tell you that, whenever possible, you should avoid chewing with the side of your mouth that contains the temporary filling.

Temporary fillings can last for several weeks or more, and during this time, it’s easy to forget about your trim and use it occasionally to chew. This shouldn’t be a problem; as long as you chew only gently on this side of the mouth, your filling should be fine. You should avoid certain foods until the temporary filling is removed. Hard and crunchy foods like nuts, fluffy caramel and chewing gum are some examples.

Be Gentle When You Brush and Floss

After getting a temporary filling, you may be somewhat concerned about brushing your teeth, but it’s okay to brush the filled tooth the same way you brush your other teeth. To be safe, use a soft or extra soft bristle toothbrush and brush gently, but carefully.

Flossing around the newly filled tooth can be tricky. If the filling reaches the edge of your tooth, be extra careful when using dental floss. Instead of pulling up when you remove the wire between your teeth, pull it sideways to prevent the wire from catching on and removing the temporary filling.

As long as you practice, your temporary dental filling will be durable enough to last until your next visit to the dentist.

Learn more about different types of fillings at the Beechnut Dental Care procedures.