Five Tips for Maintaining a Filling in Your Tooth
Many people get cavities in their teeth from time to time. If you have never had a cavity before and had to have one filled, it can be difficult to know what to do to keep the filling from coming out accidentally. Use the guide below to ensure that your filling stays as secure as possible after you have a cavity filled.
Avoid Gum
Once you have a filling in your tooth, you should no longer chew gum. Gum can stick the filling and pull it out of your tooth. Many people assume that they will remember to only chew on the side of their mouth that does not have the filling in it, but this can be nearly impossible to do so it is best to simply avoid gum altogether.
Avoid Chewy Candy
Chewy candy is another item that can stick to your filling and cause it to come loose. You need to avoid caramel, gummy candies, and nugget at all costs, if you want to better the chances of the filling staying in place for as long as possible.
Avoid Overly Hard Foods
Biting on very hard foods can lead to the filling coming loose or your tooth breaking. You need to avoid eating hard candies and hard nuts to ensure that you do not cause damage to your tooth or your filling.
Avoid Beef Jerky
Beef jerky can taste delicious, but it can also be horrible for someone who has a filling in their tooth. Beef jerky often gets caught in your teeth and can be difficult to get out. It could cause your filling to come loose while you are chewing and lead to it falling out or you accidentally swallowing it while you eat.
Wear a Mouthguard
When you play sports, it is important to wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth. If you are hit in the mouth after having a filling put in, your mouth could slam shut, causing your teeth to hit one another, which could then cause the filling to come loose. Wearing a mouth guard ensures that your teeth are safe during the game.
If you want to decrease the chances of losing the filling, you need to see your dentist on a regular basis. You want to be sure to have your teeth cleaned regularly and any issues treated as quickly as you can so that they do not become worse. Talk to practices like New Image Dental for more information.