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What To Do if Your Filling Falls Out
Filling falls out situations can catch you off guard and quickly lead to pain or sensitivity if ignored. Acting fast is the key to protecting your tooth and avoiding bigger dental issues. Call now for immediate help: (512) 863-7561
A tooth is usually treated with a dental filling. However, the durability of the filling often depends on your dental care routine and the daily wear and tear. Sometimes a filling falls out. Here’s what you should know if something like this happens if your dental filling falls out.
A tooth is usually treated with a dental filling. However, the durability of the filling often depends on your dental care routine and the daily wear and tear. Sometimes a filling falls out. Here’s what you should know if something like this happens if your dental filling falls out.
Common Reasons Your Filling Falls Out
A dental filling may not last forever; filling falls out. Many reasons affect the filling. Some of the most common reasons are:
- ● A new dental decay around the filling.
- ● Chewing too hard.
- ● Biting hard or crunchy foods.
- ● Teeth grinding (Bruxism).
- ● Damage to the tooth or its root.
- ● A chemical reaction that loosens the bond of the dental filling and the tooth.
It is recommended to book an appointment with your dentist if your dental filling falls out. However, it is important to protect the affected tooth in the meantime till you visit your dentist.
6 Steps to Follow if Your Filling Falls Out
- 1- Schedule an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible and let him know that you are in pain. However, it is important to ask your dentist how to protect the exposed tooth if your dentist can not see you right away.
- 2- It is advised to keep the filling, if possible, so your dentist can determine whether it can be reused. In case of a crown loss, your dentist may re-cement it on your tooth.
- 3- Use salt water to gargle; this will keep the affected area clean and prevent food debris from accumulating in the tooth. To make salt water, add ½ teaspoon of salt to a cup of warm water and stir. Use this to gargle for a few seconds. This will kill the bacteria that can damage your exposed tooth.
- 4- Maintain a good oral hygiene routine to take care of the exposed tooth. However, be gentle while brushing, especially around areas where the filling has fallen out.
- 5- Do not chew on the area with the exposed tooth.
- 6- To temporarily protect the exposed tooth, you can use dental wax or a temporary filling material available online. However, this is only a temporary solution that can be used until your dentist repairs your filling.
Is it Normal for a Filling to Fall Out?
It is not normal if a dental filling that you just recently got has fallen out; this might be because the filling has not properly bonded with the tooth. If you don’t experience any pain when your filling falls out, then it means there was something wrong with the filling.
If you need to have a cavity refilled, it’s important to schedule an appointment with your dentist.
If your filling has lasted for several years and has just come out, there’s no need to worry. This usually means that the chemicals in the filling have worn down over time, causing it to loosen.
What should you do if you’re in pain?
If you are going to see your dentist after a day or two, then you need to consider the following:
- ● To alleviate pain and swelling, it is advisable to take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen.
- ● It is advised to apply olove oil or even use a whole clove on the exposed tooth and gum. Clove oil is easily available online or at a pharmacy.
- ● To relieve pain and swelling, apply a cold compress or an ice pack for 15 minutes.
- ● To numb the exposed tooth or gum, a numbing cream like Anbesol or Orajel can be used.
Does a loose dental filling cause complications?
If a filling that is loose is not replaced, it can cause damage to the unprotected tooth. Food particles and bacteria can stick to the empty spaces, leading to tooth decay. Moreover, a missing filling can expose the second layer of tooth under the hard outer enamel called dentin. Dentin is softer than enamel and is more prone to decay. When exposed, dentin can also be very sensitive. Further decay or damage to the tooth requires more extensive repairs, such as a crown, root canal , or extraction. Therefore, the sooner you can have the filling replaced, the better.
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