If there’s one thing your dentist in El Paso will tell you after losing a filling, it’s don’t panic. We know that having a dental restoration come loose or fall out can be annoying, and even a bit painful. If you’ve lost a filling, you’re probably trying to figure out what you should do now.

We’ve put together some essential things that we tell our patients, and we think they’ll help you too. Read on!

First Things First: Call Us!

If you haven’t done so already, it’s extremely important that you call your El Paso dentist as soon as you can. We’ll do our best to get you into the office as soon as possible. You won’t want to wait to have your damaged tooth looked at. The longer you wait, the more susceptible you are to pain or running the risk of further damaging your tooth. Come see us! We’ll help you feel better and fix your smile.

Pay Attention to Your Filling

If your filling is loose, don’t let it sit in your mouth. By doing so, you run the risk of swallowing your dental restoration and even choking. No one wants that! If your filling fell out completely, try and save it. You can bring it to your dental appointment. The dentist can assess the damage and see if your restoration is salvageable, or if you need a new filling altogether. 

Give Your Damaged Tooth Some TLC

Your tooth that’s missing a filling might need some extra attention. We recommend trying to brush your tooth gently. This will make sure that any harmful bacteria don’t hang around and make a home there. We don’t want that! It could cause your tooth to further decay and be more prone to falling out. Rinse your mouth with water to thoroughly remove any food debris every time you eat. If you’d like, you can also mix one cup of warm water with a teaspoon of salt. This helps relieve pain, while also cleaning your damaged tooth. 

Watch What You Eat (And Drink)

When your filling falls out, it leaves your damaged tooth exposed. This means certain foods and drinks could wreak havoc on it while you’re waiting to visit the dentist. Don’t bite down on hard foods or candies. They could break your tooth! Watch out for tooth sensitivity to foods and drinks that are hot or cold. A filling-less tooth can be susceptible to both temperatures and textures. It’s a good idea to eat soft foods (something like mashed potatoes) or try soups and broths.  

Manage Your Pain and Discomfort

If you don’t have any issues or interactions with over-the-counter pain medications, you can take one of them to help manage your pain and discomfort. Like we said before, it’s not uncommon for a tooth that’s lost a filling to be at least a little sensitive to hot and cold temperatures. Don’t worry about trying to put your filling back in with dental cement from the drugstore. They’re messy and can damage your tooth even more. 

We hope you’ve learned a little bit about what to do if you’re missing a filling. Come to our El Paso dental office, and we’ll get your smile whole and healthy again. If you have any questions between now and your appointment, please don’t hesitate to give us a call. We’re happy to help you, and your smile, feel better!