Can You Floss After A Filling Between Teeth?
By
Dr Shivam Jha
This blog post will address the topic, “can you floss after a filling between teeth” and cover topics like what is a dental filling, how is a dental filling done, types of dental filling materials, comparison between tooth-colored composite and silver fillings, temporary fillings, symptoms experienced after filling and everything about eating after filling including waiting time and how to eat after filling.
Can You Floss After A Filling Between Teeth?
Yes, you can floss after a filling, but you have to be cautious of not doing it forcefully and extra cautious when the filling is on tooth edge.
Flossing after a filling must be done gently using an extra-thin floss. It is essential to curb bad bacteria and prevent interproximal caries.
It is recommended to brush twice a day for two minutes each everyday and floss twice daily even after a filling.
What Is A Dental Filling?
Dental filling, as the name suggests, is the use of various materials to fill the hole in the teeth called cavities.
Materials used to fill the cavities are referred to as Filling Materials and the process is known as Dental Filling.
How Is A Dental Filling Done?
- A local anesthetic is used in the first step to numb the soft tissues around the tooth that needs filling. This is essential to give painless dental care.
- Removal of the decayed area of the tooth that needs filling using rotary instruments, or a laser.
- Probing to confirm removal of all decayed parts of the tooth that needs filling.
- After complete removal of the decayed part, cavity preparation is done by cleaning the bacteria and other debris produced during decay removal.
- Liners are applied for nerve protection if the decay has advanced to the root and might irritate the nerve endings.
- If you have opted for a tooth colored composite material for filling, then your dentist will apply the composite in layers and use a special blue light called “curing” to harden the composite material applied.
- Finally, trimming and polishing is done and the filling process is complete.
Variety Of Dental Filling Materials: Factors To Consider Before Choosing Them
Variety of materials are used for filling. Some of them are listed below:
- Gold fillings
- Porcelain
- Silver amalgam
- Tooth-colored materials called composite resin fillings
- Glass Ionomer
Several factors that need consideration while choosing the best filling material for yourself are:
- Where is the decay located?
- How much decay has involved the tooth?
- If the roots are involved?
- Amount you can bear for a filling?
- Recommendation of the dentist after full examination and X-Ray
After taking all the above points in consideration, you can choose the best filling material for yourself that will have maximum efficacy and minimum discomfort.
Tooth Colored Composite Filling Vs. Amalgam Filling
| Composite Filling | Amalgam Filling |
| Tooth Colored With Good Aesthetics | Silver Colored With Poor Aesthetics |
| Cavity preparation involves removal of less tooth structure | More tooth structure is removed during cavity preparation involving even the healthy parts of the tooth |
| Lasts for at most 5 years and is less durable | Lasts for at least 10 to 15 years and is highly durable |
| No discoloration is observed | Grayish discoloration is observed in the surrounding tooth |
| Filling process takes longer as curing is involved | Filling process is 20 minutes quicker when compared to composite filling |
| Expensive and costs two times more than amalgam filling | Amalgam filling is inexpensive |
| Incidences of cracks and fracture is rare | Cracks and fractures occur frequently along with few allergic reaction cases |
| Composite bonds to the tooth structure micro-mechanically by creating pores for additional support | Partial or total etching is now done to bond amalgam to the tooth structure |
What Is A Temporary Filling And Do I Need One?
Temporary filling, as the name indicates, is filling the cavity or hole in the tooth with a material that is temporary and will be replaced in future by a permanent material.
You might be asking yourself why not directly use a permanent filling material.
Well! The answer to this is quite simple. You need a temporary filling if any of the given conditions coincide with your condition:
- Your dentist has recommended multiple visits for the filling
- If you have undergone a root canal and then getting a filling
- In case a dental emergency is to be met first
However, once the condition is met or the time arrives, get your temporary filling replaced by a permanent one.
Failing to do so will cause infections and destruction of the adjacent tooth.
After Getting A Dental Filling: Signs & Symptoms
Numbness
Just after the filling is complete, you may feel numb till the effect of local anaesthesia wears off.
Tooth Sensitivity, Pain And Pressure On Biting
Tooth sensitivity after getting a filling done is not uncommon and it may fade away in 1-2 weeks.
Sometimes, the trimming and polishing part is not done accurately, which leaves the filling too high, causing pain and pressure on biting.
This can be corrected by the dentist in no time and will help you to quickly come out of discomfort.
Galvanic Shock
Mostly seen with amalgam fillings, galvanic shock is a type of electric shock in the mouth, produced when two metal fillings touch each other.
All pain and sensitivity might take 2 weeks to subside. If it does not disappear even after 2 weeks, it is recommended to consult your dentist.
Eating After Filling: All You Need To Know
How Long Should I Wait To Eat After Getting My Filling Done?
It is a common question in every patient’s mind and the answer is not that simple. It depends on the following factors:
Filling Type
Amalgam filling takes almost 24 hours to harden and therefore you can only start eating after 24 hours.
Composite hardens as soon as you leave the dental chair and therefore you can eat once the local anesthetic wears off.
Local anesthetic
Local anesthetic applied during the filling process makes the entire procedure pain free as it numbs the surrounding soft tissues.
The numbness takes almost 1 to 3 hours to go away and therefore you must eat after the numbness has subsided.
If you eat when your mouth is still numb, the risk of chewing and damaging your tongue, cheeks and lips increases.
Hence, it is advised to eat only after the numbness in your mouth disappears.
Discomfort After Filling
It is quite normal to face some discomfort like pain and pressure upon biting after filling or soreness in the gums.
Such discomfort may disturb your mood and hasten your desire to eat.
Over the counter pain killer and salt water rinse will help in comforting you.
Sensitivity After Filling
Eating or drinking too hot or cold might cause sensitivity and interrupt your happy eating hours.
This is temporary and will subside in coming weeks after filling and till then it is advised to avoid too hot or cold food or drinks and also foods that are causing sensitivity.
Biting Difficulty After Filling
Sometimes, the trimming and polishing part is not done accurately, which leaves the filling too high, causing pain and pressure on biting.
This can be corrected by the dentist in no time and will help you to quickly come out of discomfort.
How To Eat After A Filling Without Damaging It?
After a filling, you might feel some discomfort and need to follow the following to get some relief:
- Chew on the opposite side of the new filling with minimum pressure
- Eat Soft Foods as hard food puts a lot of pressure on the teeth surface causing discomfort to increase.
- Do not eat foods that are sticky in nature as it may stick to your new filling and dislodge it. This mostly happens with amalgam fillings.
- Eat slowly as this will put less pressure on the tooth and relieve the discomfort.
- Do not eat or drink anything that might trigger tooth sensitivity. Too hot, too cold or sugar rich foods and drinks must be kept away from your palate.
All the above tips might relieve the discomfort caused after filling.
However, your dentist is the best person to give you suggestions based on the type of your filling material and your overall oral hygiene.
CONCLUSION
This blog post addressed the topic, “can you floss after a filling between teeth”. We understood what a dental filling is, how a dental filling is done, types of dental filling materials, comparison between tooth-colored composite and silver fillings and about temporary fillings.
The article outlined symptoms experienced after filling and everything about eating after filling including waiting time and how to eat after filling.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs): Can You Floss After A Filling Between Teeth
How Long Does It Take to Complete A Dental Filling?
It takes almost an hour or less to fill a single cavity.
In case of multiple cavities, the dentist might give you multiple appointments.
Can You Brush After A Filling
Yes, you can brush after a filling. The amount of waiting time depends on the type of filling.
Amalgam filling takes almost 24 hours to harden and therefore you can brush normally, only leaving the filling area undisturbed for 24 hours.
Composite hardens as soon as you leave the dental chair and therefore you can brush as regularly without waiting.
Why does my tooth with a filling hurt?
It is normal for your tooth to hurt after filling.
The nerves inside the tooth become inflamed after the filling, causing sensitivity and pain.
The pain, sensitivity and pressure on biting will eventually subside in 1-2 weeks.
How Long After A Filling Can You Drink Tea?
After a filling, the dentist suggests drinking tea or coffee or eating anything after two hours as local anesthesia numbs your teeth and gums and takes almost an hour or two to subside and disappear completely.
You must not drink too hot tea or too cold iced tea as new fillings may distort and break due to excessive contraction and expansion of the filling material.
Therefore, it is recommended to not eat immediately after a cavity filling and wait for at least 2 hours before eating or drinking anything.
Can flossing damage a filling?
Yes, if not done properly, flossing may damage and rip out a filling.
Flossing must be done gently and vigorous action should be avoided.
This is mostly seen with temporary fillings.
Why is it hard to floss after filling?
It is hard to floss after a filling because after filling the tooth nerves get irritated and inflamed, causing sensitivity, pain and discomfort.
The discomfort after filling is temporary and subsides after 1-2 weeks and if it does not, call your dentist.
Other FAQs about Teeth Filling that you may be interested in.
How can you tell if a filling is leaking?
How can I make my tooth stop hurting after a filling?
References:
Healthline. (2019)
What Is a Filling? Colgate
Dental Health and Tooth Fillings. (2019)
Chewing Tips After A Filling. Colgate
Decloux, Derek, and Aviv Ouanounou. “Local anaesthesia in dentistry: a review.” International Dental Journal (2021).
Williamson R. Clinical management of galvanic current between gold and amalgam. Gen Dent. 1996;44(1):70-73.
Problems With Dental Fillings. (2020)