How to Care for Your Dental Fillings: Tips for Long-Lasting Results

A dental filling can help keep a tooth strong after a cavity treatment. A cavity damages the strong exterior shell of the tooth, called the enamel, leading to a pathway for bacteria to enter deeper into the tooth. When a dentist cleans away the bacteria and fills the hole with a dental filling, most patients assume that all the work is done. But did you know that taking care of a filling correctly can help it last longer?

Taking care of dental fillings

While dental fillings are long-term solutions for cavities, they might not last forever. In fact, it is entirely possible for a filling to fall out or stop fully closing off the hole that it is covering. To prevent this from happening, patients can take the following actions.

Maintain good oral hygiene

Taking good care of the oral cavity is vital to prevent new cavities, but it also helps older fillings. By stopping new decay, patients can avoid vulnerabilities opening up near the filling site, which can cause it to become loose.

Avoid problematic foods

Dental fillings are bonded directly with the tooth in which they are installed. However, this bond is not seamless; the filling will always be slightly different from the natural tooth. Therefore, if a patient eats hard, sticky, or chewy foods, there is a chance that they could accidentally dislodge or pull out the filling.

For patients who do not want to completely exclude such foods from their diet, they should at least try to avoid chewing them directly on the filling site. Be gentle, and avoid putting intense pressure against the filling.

Visit the dentist regularly

A dentist helps keep the oral cavity healthy, which is already important for fillings. However, they also examine fillings during regular cleanings and can identify when a filling might be compromised, loose, or damaged. By addressing the problem before a filling gets lost, the dentist may be able to fix the problem without needing to redo the entire area.

Choose healthy foods and drinks

It is true that patients should avoid sticky or hard foods, but being wise with other food and beverage selections is also essential. Supplying the body with the proper nutrients, vitamins, and minerals is great for overall health and supports the teeth.

When the mouth gets the nutrition that it needs to stay healthy, the enamel on the teeth can remain strong to fight against decay that could compromise a filling. Adequate hydration washes away bacteria that can infiltrate around the edges of a filling and widen the gap. Therefore, eating right helps fillings last longer.