Fillings

How to Take Care of Temporary Fillings

In some instances, the dentist will place a temporary filling. If a person just had a root canal or they are waiting for another filling or crown to be constructed, a temporary filling might be put in place until the permanent one is made ready. The first thing to remember is that it is temporary and is more likely to come out than regular fillings, but it should be durable enough to last until the permanent one is placed. It’s important to take proper care so it stays in place until the next office visit.

Careful What you Chew

Your dentist is likely to tell you to be careful about what you chew. They may even mention not chewing on the side of the mouth with the temporary filling. You may need to be certain the filling stays in place for a few weeks and it’ll be easy to forget about it and chew on that side anyway. Just try to remember to chew gently and it should be okay. However, it’s important to note that there are some foods that should be avoided altogether until the temporary filling is replaced. Avoid super crunchy and sticky foods like nuts, chewing gum and toffee.

Careful How You Brush and Floss

It is quite alright to brush teeth that contain temporary fillings, but use a toothbrush with soft bristles. In some instances, flossing might be a little bit trickier. If the filling goes all the way to the edge of a tooth, don’t pull the floss straight back up. This might dislodge the filling. Instead, you may want to pull the floss out from the side. Just be careful with the temporary filling and it should easily last long enough to get back to the dentist.