Toothache After Filling

Your dentist may recommend you to get a filling treatment for restoring a tooth damaged by decay. A filling also helps prevent further tooth decay and brings the tooth back to its normal function and shape. It is common to experience toothache after a dental treatment. Most people experience mild to severe toothache after a filling treatment.

Sometimes the tooth also becomes extra sensitive after it. Your affected tooth may experience sensitivity to air, pressure, sweet foods, cold foods, or temperature after the procedure. Usually, this problem of sensitivity and toothache after cavity filling subsides on its own within a few weeks.

After tooth filling or any other dental treatment, try to avoid intake of things that can cause sensitivity in your tooth. Follow the instructions given by your dentist if you don't want to aggravate the problem. Here are some self care measures you can follow to reduce the toothache:

☞ It is better to stay away from very hot or very cold beverages. Also, try to refrain from smoking cigarettes.

☞ You should avoid eating candy and any type of sticky items after such a dental treatment as it will only cause further pain and may end up causing damage to the tooth filling.

☞ After a filling, it is best to eat soft foods for some days as specified by your dentist.

☞ Avoid using the tooth that has been filled for chewing. This will ensure that you don't suffer from any unnecessary pain. Also, this will make sure that the filling does not come out.

☞ It is extremely important to follow a proper dental care routine. Take extra amount of time to brush your teeth after every meal. If this is not possible, you must at least rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash.

☞ Clove oil is one of the most popular and effective toothache remedies. Take clove oil on a cotton ball and apply it on the affected area.

☞ Saltwater mouthwash is a quick remedy for toothache relief. Take a cup of lukewarm water and add a little salt in it. Swish the solution in your mouth gently. This will cleanse, disinfect and give you an instant toothache relief.

Pain around your fillings: If you experience pain around the filling, you must consult your dentist again. This can be because the cavity was not filled properly.

Pain when you bite: You may experience this type of pain when you try to bite something. You will start feeling pain after the anesthesia wears off and it might continue for some time. If you experience immediate pain when you bite down, it could be because the filling was not shaped properly. When you bite, you put pressure on it. This usually happens when the filling is interfering with your bite, i.e. the filling is above your tooth level and touching the upper or lower teeth while you try to bite something. You must contact your dentist and have the filling reshaped.

Pain when your teeth touch each other: This is a distinct pain that occurs when your teeth touch each other. The pain is caused because two different metal surfaces such as the silver amalgam in a newly filled tooth and a silver crown on another tooth touch each other. This pain usually resolves on its own within a short period, but if it's persistent, you must visit a dentist.

Referred toothache: In this case, you will experience pain or sensitivity in teeth, besides the one that has been filled. If you have this type of pain, then probably there is nothing wrong with the treated tooth and the pain should go away on its own.

Constant toothache: If the decay was very deep to the pulp of the tooth, then you might have constant toothache, especially while eating, that will last for some weeks even after the filling. This constant toothache indicates that the tissue is no longer healthy and you might have to get a root canal treatment for curing it.

Allergic symptoms after filling: There might be an allergic reaction to the silver amalgam used in the filling. You will experience itching, skin rashes and other allergy symptoms in this case and the silver filling would have to be replaced with a composite filling. Allergic reactions to silver fillings are rare. The symptoms of amalgam allergy are much similar to those experienced in a skin allergy. These include skin rashes and itching. Getting the filling replaced with composite type of filling is the best solution in this case.

Toothache after a filling usually subsides after a week or two. Mild toothache is common and you don't even need to opt for an over-the-counter painkiller. However, it is best to avoid eating whatever that causes pain. If toothache doesn't subside within two weeks after the filling or if your teeth have become extremely sensitive, you need to contact your dentist. Most probably your dentist will first recommend a toothpaste for sensitivity or apply a desensitizing agent to the tooth for pain relief. If this does not work, then a root canal treatment might be the solution to eliminate severe toothache.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this story is solely for educating the reader. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a medical expert.