Dental fillings are used to treat caries. The dentist cleans the caries on the tooth and then fills it with a special light-cured composite resin. After shaping the filling, the dentist will polish the tooth. While this is an effective way to treat cavities, fillings do not guarantee complete protection from tooth decay. If you have a loose or damaged filling, a tooth decay may develop under the original filling.
Here’s what you need to know about your dental fillings, including 3 things that can damage your fillings.
Why Should You Fix Damaged Fill Immediately?
If you do damage a filling, it’s important to go to the dentist as soon as possible to have it repaired. Even a microscopic crack in your filling can allow bacteria in your mouth to get between the filling and your teeth. If bacteria gets under your filling, tooth decay can occur. If the decay has reached the inner layer (pulp) of your tooth, you may need root canal treatment or, in some cases, tooth extraction.
3 Things That Can Damage Your Dental Fillings!
There are many bad habits that can harm both your teeth and any dental treatment you receive. Here are 3 common habits that can harm your fillings
.Chewing Hard or Crisp Foods
Just like your natural teeth, your fillings are prone to cracking. Chewing hard foods, such as ice, can crack your fillings and cause pain.
.Grinding Teeth
If you habitually grind your teeth (bruxism) abrade the surface of your teeth and you can abrade, chip or crack your fillings.
.Bit Very Hard
If you bite your filler too hard, you could damage it. The padding can only take so much pressure, and the larger the padding, the weaker it is.
Damaged Fill Symptoms
Many common symptoms of a damaged filling include:
.Pain when you bite (this can also indicate a malformed filling)
.A piece of filler comes off
.You can feel a rough edge in the infill.
.You can move the infill easily.
.Increased sensitivity to hot, cold and sweet foods and beverages.
.Pain in the filled tooth (there may be tooth decay under the filling)
More About Fillers
The thing to remember about fillers is that they are not permanent. It usually takes 2 to 10 years, depending entirely on your mouth and habits.
Follow these tips to prolong the life of your dental fillings;
.Maintain a good dental care routine (brush twice a day, floss once a day and visit your dentist every six months for professional teeth cleaning)
.Avoid eating hard and crunchy foods
.If you experience any changes in your fillings, contact your dentist as soon as possible.
