Fillings are something that our team at AC Pediatric Dentistry completes on a daily basis, but for many patients, getting a filling can be quite a nerve-wracking experience. After your filling is done, you’ll no doubt be wondering if you can eat after a filling. Here we’re going to share our top tips for recovering from a filling to ensure you keep your teeth in top condition.
Is it safe to eat after a filling?
There are a few different factors to consider when discussing whether you can eat after a filling. For most patients, we recommend waiting to eat for at least a couple of hours after a composite filling. However, it’s best to avoid chewing directly on the area of the filling for the next 24 hours to minimize the chance of an issue occurring.
Children will also need to be careful about allowing the numbness to wear off after a local anesthetic. One of the most common issues we see after fillings is children accidentally chewing their mouth or tongue due to the numbness. This is especially true if it’s their first time having this type of treatment. Encourage them to slowly chew or stick with liquids until this wears off completely.
After a filling, your dentist will give you specific instructions based on the type of filling your child has received. This will give you a better indication of whether they can eat after a filling and how long to wait to eat. While some people may tell you that it’s safe to eat immediately with a composite filling due to the UV light that’s used to set it, we always recommend acting with a little more caution. Most people will try and have a good meal before coming to our surgery for that reason so that they can wait a little while after to enjoy their next snack or meal.
Discomfort and Sensitivity After a Filling
Once the local anesthetic has worn off, some of our patients find they have a little discomfort in the area where the filling took place. This is often due to the procedure that we perform before the filling, which may leave you with pain and sensitivity for a few hours. If that’s the case for your child, stick to liquids for a little while. You might find your child’s appetite or interest in eating decreases, but that’s perfectly normal for the rest of the day.
Gum tissue discomfort is also normal during this treatment, as the gum tissue may become irritated. This can make chewing more uncomfortable, so try encouraging your child to eat on the other side of their mouth for a day or two. It’s important to know they are still consuming the calories they need to get through their day without causing too much pain in the process. Warm salt water makes a good rinse following a filling and can help gums to heal much quicker.
What foods should you eat after a filling?
If you have a picky child, you might be struggling to know what they can eat after a filling. The main thing to avoid is any type of hard food, such as candy, ice, nuts, and other harder solid foods. These cause too much pressure on the tooth and are very dangerous to eat with fillings. Sticky foods are also a bad idea, as they can pull the filling out if it hasn’t fully set. Sugary foods can cause more sensitivity in the area of the filling, and encourage bacteria to grow, so also keep these to a minimum in the day or two after a filling.
When feeding your child after a filling, encourage them to take their meals much slower than usual. We all know how quickly some kids like to eat, but by eating slowly, they will be able to be more mindful about where they are biting and avoid chewing on the side where the filling is located.
Keep Your Family’s Teeth Healthy with the Help of AC Pediatric Dentistry
Taking a child to the dentist can be a tiring, embarrassing, and frustrating experience. At AC Pediatric Dentistry, we understand this, and that’s why we want to make the experience pleasant and fun for children. Call us today or request an appointment online.