How can I make my tooth stop hurting after a filling?
By
Dr Shivam Jha
This blog post will address the topic, “how can I make my tooth stop hurting after a filling” and cover topics like what a dental filling is, how is a dental filling done, how long does it take to complete a dental filling, discomforts after getting a dental filling, reasons for tooth sensitivity after filling and soft foods to eat after tooth filling to make your tooth stop hurting.
How can I make my tooth stop hurting after a filling?
To make your tooth stop hurting after a filling, you may do the following:
- Take over-the-counter painkillers – Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are mostly preferred such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.
- Cautious Chewing – Chew on the opposite side of the new filling with minimum pressure
- Eating soft foods – Hard food puts a lot of pressure on the teeth surface causing discomfort to increase.
- Avoid sticky foods – 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 – This will put less pressure on the tooth and relieve the discomfort.
- Avoid too hot or cold foods and drinks – 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.
- Gentle brushing with short strokes – Make sure you do not brush vigorously or with extra force.
- Cautious Flossing – after a filling, flossing must be done gently using an extra-thin floss. Be cautious of not doing it forcefully and extra cautious when the filling is on the tooth edge.
- Desensitising toothpaste – will make your tooth not hurt after 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.
How Long Does It Take to Complete A Dental Filling?
Dental filling is the use of various materials to fill the hole in the teeth called cavities.
It takes almost an hour or less to fill a single cavity.
In case of multiple cavities, the dentist might give you multiple appointments.
Discomforts After Getting A Dental Filling
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.
Reasons For Tooth Sensitivity After Filling
It is normal for your tooth to hurt after filling.
The pain, sensitivity and pressure on biting will eventually subside in 1-2 weeks.
Few common reasons for tooth sensitivity after filling may include:
- Pulp Inflammation – The nerves inside the tooth become inflamed after the filling, causing sensitivity and pain.
- Uneven Bite – Sometimes, the trimming and polishing part is not done accurately, which leaves the filling too high, causing pain and pressure on biting.
- Two Metal Fillings On Occluding Surfaces – If you have two metal fillings, say gold on one and silver on tooth opposite to gold, then you might experience shock like pain and sensitivity when these surfaces occlude.
- Allergy To Filling Material – Some people do develop allergic reactions to certain types of filling material causing pain and discomfort.
Soft Foods To Eat After Tooth Filling To Make Your Tooth Stop Hurting
Soft Foods to eat after tooth filling are:
- Dairy products including curd, cottage cheese and scrambled eggs
- Soup and broth
- Cooked fruits and vegetables
- Smoothies and protein shakes
- Mashed potatoes
- Oatmeal or cream of wheat
- Butternut squash
- Lentil soup
- Tilapia or other white fish with light seasoning
- Steamed soft veggies like squash or peas
- Polenta or grits
- Jell-O
- Bananas
- Apple sauce
- Cold coffee (not so cold!)
- Milk shakes
- Soft boiled rice
- Bread dipped in soup
It is advised to eat soft foods after tooth filling and avoid hard and sticky foods and sugary foods that might aggravate the tooth sensitivity and pain.
CONCLUSION
This blog post addressed the topic, “how can I make my tooth stop hurting after a filling”. We understood what a dental filling is, how a dental filling is done and how long it takes to complete a dental filling. The article outlined discomforts after getting a dental filling, reasons for tooth sensitivity after filling and soft foods to eat after tooth filling to make your tooth stop hurting.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs): How Can I Make My Tooth Stop Hurting After A Filling?
How Do You Stay Calm During A Cavity Filling?
For you to stay calm during a cavity filling, your dentist will numb your tooth that is going to be drilled for filling.
If you feel anxious even after numbing, for you to stay calm, your dentist might recommend sedation and make you go to sleep.
However, sedation is not always recommended for all and may be contraindicated in patients with other disorders or comorbidities.
Why Do Fillings Hurt Without Numbing?
Fillings hurt without numbing because your tooth contains pulp tissue which is highly vascularized and innervated.
Drilling process irritates the nerve endings present in the dentin and pulp, causing pain, sensitivity and discomfort.
Local anaesthetic injection numbs the nerves and thus minimises or eliminates the pain and discomfort associated with the filling process.
Does Filling A Cavity Hurt After?
Yes! 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.
Is Having A Lot Of Fillings Bad?
Having a lot of fillings is surely bad and indicates poor oral hygiene or may be poor body defence.
Cavity formation must be prevented in the first place by following proper oral hygiene, eating foods rich in calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and vitamin D and abstaining from bad habits like smoking or use of smokeless tobacco.
If you have a lot of fillings and your teeth structure is less, your teeth might weaken and may also loosen eventually.
Can cavities come back after filling?
Yes! A cavity may reappear even after filling due to bacterial contamination of the tooth cavity resulting from multiple causes such as microleakage, faulty crown placement, filling material falling out due to poor after-care, inadequate debridement and sealing of the cavity and poor oral hygiene after filling.
In order to prevent cavities from reappearing even after filling, daily brushing your teeth twice is essential along with daily flossing and occasional mouthwash.
However, if the reappearance of the cavity is due to reasons other than poor oral hygiene, then your dentist will examine and fix the issue as suitable.
If you feel any hole or pain in the tooth that has filling, immediately consult your dentist.
Other FAQs about Teeth Filling that you may be interested in.
Can composite fillings last 20 years?
Can I eat after a white filling?
References:
Tooth Sensitivity After Filling: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
Do Fillings Hurt? Types of Fillings, Numbing, Prevention & More
What Is a Filling? Colgate
Dental Health and Tooth Fillings. (2019)
Tooth Pain after a Filling – Is It Normal? | Colgate®