What To Do If a Filling Falls Out  

Dental fillings are not designed to last forever. If your filling ages, it can begin to loosen. If your filling is loosening, it is important to contact Hancock Village Dental to get it replaced. If you fail to do so and the filling is not repaired, it can eventually fall out. If your filling falls out, you can be left with a huge hole in your tooth. Here are the steps that you should be sure to follow if this happens.

Remove and Dispose of the Filling

If a filling has fallen out of your tooth, the first thing that you should do is remove the filling from your mouth and dispose of it. It can simply be thrown in the trash. Many people think that they must save the filling or preserve it for a dentist. We will be able to easily tell that a filling is missing from your tooth, and will not reuse your old filling, so there is no point in holding on to it or saving it in any way.

Rinse Your Mouth

The next thing you will want to do is to rinse your mouth to remove germs and bacteria. If possible, use a warm salt water rinse and swish the water around the area where the filling fell from. If you do not have saltwater available, use regular tap water. Until your filling can be replaced, you will want to rinse the area with saltwater multiple times per day to help keep bacteria at bay. This helps to prevent infections and to help to keep food particles out of the affected area.

Get in Touch With Your Dentist in Clermont

Now that the filling is removed and the area is clean, it is time to get in touch with your local dentist in Clermont. You will want to let them know that a filling has fallen out. Unless you are experiencing extreme pain, swelling, or showing signs of an infection or abscess, this is not a dental emergency. A dentist will typically try to get you seen in a timely manner, but be advised that it can take a week or two to get you in. A dentist will likely also give you advice and recommendations on caring for the affected area. 

Keep the Area Clean

Until a dentist can get you in to have the cavity filled, it is important to keep the area clean. We have already talked about using a saltwater rinse, but this is not the only way to clean the area. You will also want to brush your teeth after every meal and use floss to remove food particles stuck between your teeth. Many people think they should avoid brushing or flossing the affected tooth, but this is not the case. If anything, you want to be more active with brushing and flossing.

Use Dental Wax and Over-The-Counter Pain Relievers As Needed

Finally, it is important to note that you may be uncomfortable having a hole in your tooth. Dental wax can be used to fill in the hole and help decrease sensitivity. Over-the-counter pain relievers can help to control or minimize any minor pain or discomfort you begin to experience. However, if the pain begins to feel intense and is not managed with at-home remedies, or you begin to show any signs of a dental abscess, including cheek swelling or drainage, you will want to get in touch with your dentist or an emergency dentist to be seen right away.

The best way to prevent a filling from falling out is to visit your dentist in Clermont routinely. If a filling does fall out, you will want to contact a professional who can help you in a timely manner, such as us at Hancock Village Dental. We offer Clermont family dentistry services and can help you with all of your routine dental needs, including repairing loose fillings or fillings that have fallen out. Give us a call today to book your appointment.