Dental fillings are common restorations used to repair teeth affected by cavities or damage. While designed to endure for many years, fillings can occasionally come loose or fall out. Understanding how to identify a lost filling and what immediate actions to take can help protect your oral health.
Recognizing the Signs
Identifying a lost dental filling often involves a combination of sensory and visual cues. A sudden change in sensation within your mouth is a common indicator. You might feel a noticeable hole, indentation, or rough spot on your tooth with your tongue where the filling once was. This exposed area can cause increased sensitivity to hot, cold, or sugary foods and drinks, or even cold air, leading to sharp pain or a lingering ache.
Visually, you might see a gap or hole in the tooth. Sometimes, the actual filling piece—a small fragment of metal, resin, or ceramic—might be found in your mouth after it dislodges. Food consistently getting trapped where the filling was located is another sign, as the missing material creates a space. Discomfort when chewing or biting down, particularly on the affected side, can also suggest a lost filling.
Immediate Steps to Take
If you suspect a dental filling has fallen out, contact your dentist promptly to schedule an appointment. Even without pain, addressing a lost filling quickly prevents further complications like decay or infection. While waiting for your dental visit, take actions to manage discomfort and protect the exposed tooth.
Gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water to keep the area clean and reduce bacteria. Prepare this by mixing about half a teaspoon of salt into a cup of warm water. If painful, over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen can help alleviate discomfort and reduce swelling. Avoid chewing on the affected side to prevent further damage. You can also temporarily protect the exposed tooth by applying dental wax or an over-the-counter temporary filling material, which acts as a barrier against food particles and bacteria.
Common Reasons Fillings Come Loose
Dental fillings, while durable, are not permanent and can loosen or fall out for several reasons. New decay forming around the edges of an existing filling is a common cause, as it weakens the tooth structure supporting the filling and causes it to lose its bond. Over time, the constant forces of chewing and grinding can lead to wear and tear on the filling material itself, causing it to weaken or dislodge.
Strong biting forces from chewing on hard or sticky foods, or habits like teeth grinding (bruxism), can also put excessive pressure on fillings, leading them to crack, chip, or fall out. Dental trauma, like an accidental blow to the mouth, can dislodge a filling. A filling may also come loose due to issues with the bonding process, such as moisture contamination or improper curing.
Maintaining Dental Health
Maintaining good oral hygiene practices helps preserve the longevity of dental fillings and supports overall dental health. Regularly brushing your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and flossing daily helps remove plaque and food debris around fillings, preventing new decay. Using a soft-bristled toothbrush and brushing gently around filled areas is recommended to avoid damaging the filling or surrounding gum tissue.
Regular dental check-ups, typically every six months, are important as dentists can detect early signs of wear, decay, or damage to fillings before they become problems. Professional cleanings remove plaque and tartar that at-home brushing may miss, further protecting fillings and teeth. Avoiding habits like chewing on hard objects (e.g., ice, hard candy) and being mindful of sticky or overly crunchy foods can reduce stress on fillings. If teeth grinding is an issue, especially during sleep, wearing a mouthguard can help protect fillings from excessive pressure.