For most fillings placed today, the thing you are waiting for is your lip and tongue, not the filling. Tooth-coloured composite is hardened with a light before you leave the chair, so once the anaesthetic wears off you can eat, starting with softer food. Silver amalgam is different: it keeps gaining strength for about a day, so hard chewing on that side is best left until tomorrow.
Numbness is the main reason to wait
Local anaesthetic usually takes one to a few hours to wear off, depending on the type used and where in the mouth it was given. Until it does, you cannot feel your cheek, lip or tongue properly, which makes it easy to bite them hard without noticing. Hot drinks are a risk too, because you will not feel a burn. Children need watching closely during this time, as some find the numb feeling strange and chew at their lip.
If you are hungry, a cool smoothie or yoghurt is a safer choice than a meal until feeling returns. Our article on how long dental numbness lasts explains why some areas stay numb longer than others.
Composite and amalgam set in different ways
| Tooth-coloured composite | Silver amalgam | |
|---|---|---|
| How it hardens | Set with a curing light, layer by layer, during the visit | Hardens through a chemical reaction that continues after you leave |
| Eating | Once the numbness has gone | Soft food once the numbness has gone |
| Hard or sticky food on that side | Fine after the first day if the tooth is comfortable | Best avoided for about 24 hours |
The amalgam timing comes from how the material behaves. In laboratory testing published in Dental Materials Journal (Suchatlampong and colleagues, 1995), the amalgams studied had reached about 90 per cent or more of their seven-day strength at 24 hours. That is why the first day is the period to be gentle.
A gentle first day
Even with a composite filling, the tooth and gum around it may feel bruised from the treatment, so the first day is about comfort.
Foods that tend to go down easily include eggs, yoghurt, pasta, rice, mashed vegetables, soft fruit and soup that has cooled a little. Chewing on the other side gives the treated tooth a rest.
Leave the following for a day or so: nuts, hard crusts, ice, toffee, chewing gum and chewy lollies. Sticky foods pull on a new filling, and very hard foods put sudden force on the tooth. Very hot or icy food and drink can also trigger twinges in a freshly filled tooth.
Some sensitivity is expected
A filled tooth often reacts to cold, sweet food or biting pressure for a few days, and sometimes for a couple of weeks, especially after a deeper filling. In most cases it fades steadily. A toothpaste for sensitive teeth and avoiding temperature extremes can help while it settles, and our guide to sensitive teeth explains what else helps.
The pattern is what matters. Sensitivity that eases week by week is usual. Sensitivity that is getting worse, a throbbing ache, or pain that starts on its own and lingers is different and should be checked, as it can mean the nerve inside the tooth is inflamed. Our article on reversible and irreversible pulpitis explains what that means.
A bite that feels high needs a quick adjustment
While you are numb, it is hard to judge whether a filling is exactly the right height. Once feeling returns, if that tooth seems to touch first when you close, or you feel a pressure point when chewing, call us. Smoothing a high spot takes a few minutes, and leaving it can make the tooth ache and stay tender to bite on.
Also get in touch if the filling feels rough or sharp, if part of it chips, or if it comes out. Our guide on what to do if a filling falls out covers the first steps.
Making the filling last
A filling repairs the damage, but whatever caused the decay can still affect the edges of the filling and the teeth around it. Fewer sugary and acidic snacks between meals, brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and cleaning between the teeth all help. Our list of the best and worst foods and drinks for teeth is a practical next read, and regular check-ups and X-rays help pick up new decay while it is small.
Questions about eating after a filling
Can I have coffee straight after a filling?
Wait until the numbness has gone so you do not burn your mouth. If the tooth is sensitive to heat, let the coffee cool a little for the first few days.
Can I chew on a composite filling the same day?
Yes, once you can feel your mouth again. Starting with softer food and favouring the other side for the first day is still sensible, because the area may be tender.
Is it normal for a filled tooth to hurt when I bite?
Mild tenderness for a day or two can happen. If biting is sharply painful, or the tooth seems to hit first, the filling may need adjusting, so contact us.
Booking a visit
If you need a filling or a tooth has been bothering you, the team at Lumi Dental can help. You can see current new patient offers on our deals page or read about general dental care at Lumi Dental in Melrose Park.
