How to Care for Your Tooth-Colored Fillings

Most people will experience at least one dental cavity in their lifetime. Fortunately, pediatric dentists use tooth-colored fillings to treat tooth decay in children with natural-looking results. As a bonus, fillings require minimal care; most children forget about them after a few weeks. However, choosing healthy lifestyle habits can help keep tooth-colored fillings in excellent shape, allowing them to last many years before replacement.

Tooth-Colored Fillings Aftercare

Choose food with care

Like any other type of dental work, the foods and beverages a child consumes regularly will affect fillings. A healthy, well-balanced diet rich in vitamins and calcium can help strengthen teeth and gums and improve oral health. However, certain foods can be problematic and may even cause damage to tooth-colored fillings over time.

Food Texture

The pediatric dentist will likely recommend soft foods for children the first day or two after receiving a dental filling. Those with extensive decay may experience inflammation and discomfort for a few days after the procedure. Eating foods that are easier to chew can help prevent more tooth pain at this time.

After healing, children can resume a normal, healthy diet. However, it is important to remember that fillings can be chipped, cracked, or dislodged under intense force or pressure. In addition, eating extremely hard, tough, or sticky foods can cause damage, so parents should limit these choices to rare occasions. If a child eats these foods, parents should encourage them to chew on the other side of their mouth, away from the filling site, and brush and floss immediately after consuming.

Food Color

A colorful plate is often a sign of a nutrient-rich, healthy diet. However, the tannins in some foods, even natural ones, can stain teeth and tooth-colored fillings. Coffee, red wine, dark sodas, and artificial food dyes are some of the worst culprits. However, beets and berries can also cause unsightly discolorations. The pediatric dentist will likely recommend parents limit these options and encourage their child to rinse and brush as soon as possible after consuming them.

Food Temperature

Tooth sensitivity is a common issue, especially in patients recently undergoing dental work. After a filling, sensitive teeth can cause discomfort for a few days or weeks. To help prevent this type of discomfort, do not consume foods and beverages at extremely high or low temperatures.

Maintain proper oral hygiene

Cavities are often the result of inadequate oral hygiene. To prevent more tooth decay in the future, parents should schedule their child a pediatric dentist visit every six months. In addition, be sure their children thoroughly brush their teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Parents should help their young children brush at a slight angle to help sweep away food particles and bacteria along the gum line. Floss once a day as well.

Mouthwashes can help keep unwanted bacteria under control. However, those that contain alcohol can damage tooth-colored fillings by plasticizing the resin composite material. Therefore, the pediatric dentist will suggest an alcohol-free mouthwash for the child's oral health needs.