A tooth filling is typically required when a cavity has formed on the root of your tooth. The filling will settle into the tooth as part of the repair process. Naturally, you’ll begin to feel some tooth pain after filling.
However, is it normal to have tooth pain after filling?
You should always expect some sensitivity after treatment, although it isn’t expected to be very major, apart from in some instances where the tooth filling dislodges itself and the cavity becomes exposed.
The discomfort you feel immediately after a filling is natural because your tooth goes through a repair process, although it shouldn’t last very long. If there are instances where you continue to feel pain even a few days after tooth filling treatment, then there are certain causes of this.
Before we get into those causes, it is important to first address what triggers tooth pain:
- Hot and cold drinks such as ice cream, ice, pastries and spicy foods
- Pain when breathing in cold air
- Biting down on foods when eating
- Teeth grinding
- Cavities and decay
- Gum inflammation and irritation
- A dislodged filling
- So, Why Do Fillings Cause Tooth Pain?
It is important to note that tooth pain after filling is natural, but it may not necessarily be due to the filling, but an external cause that requires treatment.
- A Misaligned Bite – A filling needs to line up with the line of your teeth, and if the filling is taller, it will become impacted because the filling will be impacted first. If you continue to eat and drink yet the sensitivity persists in the mouth and jaw with the filling is still firmly in place, there may be an issue with your bite. This will need correcting at the dentist.
- Problem With The Filling – If the filling area is causing sensitivity, it’s a sign that there is an issue with it. The filling may not have been positioned accordingly, such as the filling is too high, and this can cause malocclusion.
- An Irritated Nerve – The filling procedure may have also caused nerve inflammation within the tooth. The enamel typically protects the nerve, but fillings mean that the nerve is exposed. The nerve may be touched and can cause an uncomfortable sensation.
- Pulpitis – Pulpitis is where the pulp deep inside the tooth is inflamed. This is possible if the hole in the tooth is very deep where it reaches the inner pulp layer. If you’ve multiple fillings on the same tooth, this may also be a reason.
- What Should I Do If My Tooth Filling Is Loose Or Broken?
If you’ve had a filling treatment recently but the filling has been disturbed, you’re likely to feel the tooth filling being loose. This will require a trip to the dentist so this filling can be replaced with another. At any point that you feel there is movement, get checked in for an appointment.
Of course, tooth cavities can be avoided with strong oral hygiene, such as brushing your teeth twice a day, keeping enamel strong and dropping fad diets that contain sugar. You may consult the dentist to get the best oral care routine for your teeth. If you’re experiencing tooth pain after filling, don’t delay and get the filling checked out as soon as possible.
