Even with the best oral hygiene habits, cavities can occur. The good thing is that, with regular visits to our Houska dental office, we can identify them early and remove them before they can cause considerable harm. However, patients must take care of their fillings to prevent them from breaking, chipping, or leading to recurrent cavities and more restorations.
Fillings don't last forever—they last between 10 and 15 years. Here are some tips to help you ensure that longevity.
5 Tips for Making Your Dental Fillings Last
1. Maintain Oral Hygiene
Regular brushing and flossing are essential to preserving the integrity of dental fillings. Thoroughly cleaning your teeth can help remove food particles and plaque that can build up around fillings and cause gum disease or decay.
Use a toothbrush with soft bristles to avoid harming the filling and surrounding gum tissue.
2. Avoid Hard Foods and Drinks
Hard foods, such as hard candy, nuts, and ice, can put undue strain on your fillings. They might break or come loose, resulting in more dental issues.
This doesn’t mean all foods are forbidden. We just encourage you to be careful when chewing.
3. Schedule Regular Checkups with Your Dentist
Maintaining the health of your fillings requires routine dental checkups. A dentist is trained to look for wear and tear or damage you might miss at home. We often perform routine X-rays to ensure the underlying tooth and filling are in good condition.
4. Go for Fluoride Oral Products
Fluoride protects fillings and strengthens teeth. It increases the tooth's resistance to decay by remineralizing the areas around the filling. For that reason, we recommend using mouthwashes or toothpaste containing fluoride to prevent cavities and enamel erosion.
5. No Teeth-Grinding
Over time, bruxism (also known as teeth grinding) can seriously harm your fillings. If you have a habit of grinding your teeth, especially at night, see your dentist about getting a nightguard. It works as a cushion between your teeth, shielding your fillings from the pressure.
The Importance of Taking Good Care of Fillings
Taking care of your new fillings is fundamental to the long-term health of your tooth.
Even with the best applications, your filling can crack over time, leaving a space where bacteria can start to build up. If new decay develops, removing it may require taking away even more of your natural tooth structure.
Without proper care, this cycle can continue until there’s not enough healthy tooth structure left to support another filling, making a dental crown the only solution. The secret to avoiding that is taking great care of your fillings and seeing your Houska dentist to catch any signs of new decay early.
Our Houska Dentist Can Keep Your Smile Healthy for Years to Come
Cavities don’t just happen during childhood. They'll remain a potential risk throughout your life. Maintaining good oral hygiene, using fluoride products, and visiting the dentist regularly are key to preventing them. It may feel overwhelming at first, but the truth is that even with fillings, you’ll still need to maintain those same healthy habits.
The more your natural tooth can be preserved, the longer its lifespan will be. If you’re due for a dental checkup or believe your filling could use some repair, reach out to Smalltown Dental today! Don’t put off caring for your smile.
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