Can you eat after a filling? The answer is yes, but the kind of food you can eat depends on your tooth filling.
There are different types of fillings made from different materials. Some fillers are temporary, and others are permanent. Temporary fillings require special care short term, which may include eating soft foods or soup after application.
How Soon Can I Eat After Getting a Filling?
How soon you can eat after getting a tooth filling depends on whether it is temporary or permanent.
A temporary emergency filling is available over the counter and made from a cement powder that you mix with a solution. The mixture creates a temporary sealing, covering the area of decay. It is helpful in emergencies where your permanent filling has cracked or fallen out — but it isn’t as strong as a permanent filling.
Dentists may also use temporary tooth fillings as placeholders while you wait for a gold filling or a crown. No matter the type of temporary filling, you can eat as soon as the filling is dry and you feel well enough to do so.
Permanent fillings are amalgam, resin, cement, gold or porcelain. You can eat any time after having a permanent tooth filling. Still, in the beginning, you may experience sensitivity when eating cold, hot or sugary foods.
What Can I Eat After A Tooth Filling?
After having your tooth filled, eat foods that are easy to eat and foods that are lukewarm. Lukewarm or room-temperature foods minimize the amount of sensitivity you might experience. Once the sensitivity is gone, you can eat all the foods you’re used to – though it’s better to stick with foods that promote good oral health. These include foods that are high in calcium, vitamin D and antioxidants. Examples of foods that promote good oral health are:
- Low-fat dairy products such as milk, cheese and yogurt
- Fresh fruits and vegetables such as apples and blackberries
- Snacks that are low in sugar
Foods to Avoid After A Tooth Filling
If you have a temporary tooth filling, your dentist will provide you with a list of foods to avoid. These foods put you at risk of losing your temporary filling.
They include:
- Hard foods: nuts, chips, seeds, pretzels and hard lollies
- Chewy foods: pizza, gummies, or lollies like Fantails or Minties
While enjoying these foods with caution is possible, doing so could crack your temporary tooth filling and increase your risk of infection.
After having a tooth filling, whether temporary or permanent, you will experience sensitivity. This sensitivity is temporary but is worsened by eating :
- Sugary foods such as lollies, cakes, pies and biscuits
- Cold foods such as ice cubes, ice cream, slushies, popsicles and ice-cold water
- Hot foods such as stews or hot meat
After a few days, this sensitivity should subside, allowing you to eat all your favourite foods again. If it doesn’t, let your dentist know right away.
Remember, eating foods that are high in sugar increases the risk of future dental decay. This could result in additional tooth fillings or decay around your new tooth filling. To minimize this risk, stick with foods low in sugar and brush your teeth after eating sugary foods.
3 Tips After Getting Your New Filling
To keep your dental fillings looking fresh and brand new for as long as possible, follow your dentists’ instructions for aftercare. These instructions will differ depending on the type of tooth filling you have.
1. Attend Scheduled Dental Visits
Attending regularly scheduled dental visits can help protect the longevity of your tooth filling. Minor cracks are hard to see, but your dentist can see them using special equipment. If there is a crack or anything wrong with the filling, the dentist can repair it before it becomes a problem.
2. Limit Hard to Eat Foods
You should avoid hard-to-eat foods such as pretzels, lollies, or bones after getting a filling. These foods can cause cracks in the resin or loosen your filling over time. You should also avoid chewing on hard objects like ink, pens, pencils, or your fingernails.
3. Avoid Staining Your Filling
Coffee, tea, and smoking can all discolour your non-metallic fillings. Though it may be hard to stop smoking suddenly or to discontinue caffeine abruptly, doing so can protect the integrity of your filling.
If you need a filling or it’s time for a new one, Alpine Dental can help. Most dental practices use composite resin fillings as a go-to, but our dentists are trained experts in various dental fillings, and we can walk you through each one. To schedule a consultation, contact us or click the book now button below. Together we can help you achieve a beautiful, healthy smile.
