• Don’t chew while your mouth is still numb after a dental filling.
• Avoid extremely hot or cold foods and beverages for up to two weeks.
• Avoid crunchy, chewy, and sticky foods for up to two weeks.
• Don’t bite down too hard because it may damage the dental filling material.

Dental fillings usually take one or two weeks to settle completely. You can resume your daily activities and work immediately after the procedure, but you should avoid crunchy, sticky, and chewy foods until your cavity fillings settle completely.

You should ideally wait at least two hours after your tooth filling procedure before eating.

You can talk after your filling. However, if your dentist uses local anesthesia during the procedure, you may have slight difficulty speaking clearly for a few hours.

The longevity of dental fillings depends on the dental filling material, the location of the filling, and your oral hygiene and dietary habits. Metal fillings last for approximately 15 years, and tooth-colored fillings last for 7 to 10 years, following which they must be replaced.

To keep your fillings strong, brush and floss your teeth at least twice daily. You should use fluoride toothpaste and alcohol-free antibacterial mouthwash. You should also avoid crunchy, sticky, and chewy snacks.

Dental fillings are good for front teeth. Tooth-colored fillings are especially good for the front teeth because they look completely natural and don’t leave any obvious signs of dental work.

H3. How many times can you replace a filling?

Patients with composite resin, tooth-colored fillings generally need to replace them every 7 to 10 years. But patients with amalgam and silver fillings can replace them once every 15 years. You can replace your fillings as many times as your teeth allow. If the cavity becomes too large for fillings, your dentist may recommend a dental crown.