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Teeth Sensitivity After Dental Filling: How to Manage it?
Dental fillings are an effective solution to treat cavities. Before the dental expert fills cavities, they use an anesthetic to numb the gums, teeth, and nearby region to avoid any discomfort. A few individuals experience tooth sensitivity after filling.
But if it lingers after the standard timeframe, it signifies that there is something wrong with your mouth and you need help from the Aurora dentist. Read on to know why a patient feels it, how to manage it and when to visit the dentist.
How Do the Patients Feel After a Filling?
After the numbness goes away, patients experience the following sensations in their mouth:
- Teeth pain when consuming hot or cold food/liquids and breathing cold air
- Gum tenderness
- Severe pain nearby the filling area
- Pain in the affected tooth while teeth grinding (bruxism)
- Teeth pain while flossing, brushing, or consuming food
Only in rare cases, patients may encounter redness, extreme discomfort, and swelling around the site. If tooth sensitivity does not go away, immediately connect with Aurora dentist.
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Why Fillings Cause Sensitivity?
A tooth with filling performed recently will be more sensitive to the air temperature, biting pressure, and cold/hot foods once the anesthetic wears off. However, the sensitivity evades within several weeks.
Below are the reasons behind the tooth sensitivity:
a) Irritated Nerves
The dental filling procedure may cause inflammation in the tooth nerve. It typically occurs when the bigger cavities are filled.
b) Wrong Bite Alignment
The fillings must be added to the affected tooth in such a way so that it offers patients the perfect bite. But sometimes, the filling material does not get completely hard and creates wrong bite alignment.
In this case, every time the patient bites, it triggers extra force which can lead to tooth sensitivity. If you notice any issue with your bite, get in touch with the dentist near you. The expert will help you adjust the dental filling so that it better suits your other teeth.
c) Multiple Tooth Surfaces
You may also feel sensitivity or pain due to the two different surfaces in the mouth. For example, if one of the teeth has a gold crown and a tooth below/above it consists of a silver filling, you may feel a strange sensation when touching each other.
d) Pulpitis
Pulpitis is the dental pulp inflammation caused due by untreated trauma, caries, or more than one filling. When this happens, either the inflammation settles down or the patient needs to undergo a root canal if the damaged nerve begins dying.
e) Allergic Reaction
Sensitivity could also be due to an allergic reaction to the filling materials. So, if you spot a rash or itching near your filled area, contact a dentist in Aurora CO right away.
f) Loose/Broken Old Filings
Losing or breaking of old dental fillings can even trigger pain and sensitivity. Make sure you get it replaced as soon as possible to avoid discomfort and further damage to the affected tooth.
g) Gum Disease
Gum disease may also be the reason behind the tooth sensitivity post filling. It’s because the condition causes the gums to recede. This uncovers the tooth and causes throbbing pain. This makes patients feel sensitive.
Just go to your dentist and take his/her help to find out the underlying cause behind the sensitive tooth after the filling procedure.
How to Deal with Eating Sensitivity at Home?
Maintaining good oral health is essential when struggling with any mouth issue. Below are the best tips to cope with mouth pain and sore teeth after filling sensitivity:
- Brush gently with a toothbrush designed for sensitive teeth. Do not scrub back and forth
- Floss softly
- Use gum sensitivity toothpaste or topical numbing ointments to get rid of the pain
- Follow your instructions of your dentist regarding what foods to consume and when
- Always chew on the opposite side of the mouth
- Have regular dental visits with your dental professional
Once your sensitivity is over, you’ll be able to drink and eat food normally.
Getting a filling can help you enhance your overall health. Tooth sensitivity after the dental fillings is normal.
It’s essential to follow oral hygiene and talk to the dental professional at Spruce Canyon Family Dentistry to deal with it well. If the tooth destroyed has a lot of decay or the filling is big, the dentist may substitute filling with a crown to avoid discomfort.