Fillings are an important part of your dental care. They help prevent decay from reaching your tooth’s root. Maintaining your fillings as well as the rest of your teeth helps you keep your natural teeth throughout your life. However, a common problem with dental fillings in Lawrence KS is when they loosen, partially fall out or fall out completely. Here’s what to do in case this happens.
When The Filling Is Loose
Call your dentist if your filling feels loose or suddenly develops sharp points which hurt your tongue or mouth. Try to chew on the side of your mouth without the loose filling to prevent it from falling out. You need to get to your dentist as soon as possible to repair or replace the filling before food gets into the tooth’s hole and starts decaying.
When The Filling Falls Out
If the whole filling comes out, save it in a plastic sandwich bag if possible. If it comes out in pieces you do not have to bother saving the pieces. They can be thrown out. Schedule an appointment to get a new filling as soon as possible, even if you are not experiencing any pain in your tooth. You may need a new X-ray of your tooth before your filling is replaced to make sure that your tooth does not have decay or other damage below the gum line. There’s no sense for your dentist to give you a new filling if your teeth needs to be pulled.
Problem Prevention
To prevent your fillings from breaking, getting loose or falling out, brush your teeth at least twice a day. Avoid eating very hard foods like ice cubes or very sticky foods like caramels. If you need to chew gum to help fight dry mouth ask your dentist what gum would be best for your fillings. Stop chewing on pens, toothpicks or other hard objects.
In Conclusion
Although a loose or completely fallen out filling is not a medical emergency, it needs to be fixed as soon as possible to prevent further damage to your tooth. Contact us if you have more questions about your lost or falling out Dental Fillings in Lawrence KS that have not been addressed here.
