How To Recognize A Loose Dental Filling And 4 Things You Can Do About It

Written By Anita Ginsburg / Reviewed By Ray Spotts

Fillings are meant to last for a long time, but they can fall out or become loose due to things like decay, trauma, or age. If you have a loose dental filling, you may notice gaps between it and the tooth, a feeling of roughness when you touch it, or pain when you bite down. If you suspect that you have a loose dental filling, there are four things that you can do about it.

Cleanse the Area

First, it’s imperative that you keep this area clean so that you don’t develop an infection. You can easily do so by gargling with salt water. All you need to do is add half a teaspoon of salt to a cup of water. Stir the mixture, and gargle with it for about 20 seconds before you spit it out. This rinse will allow you to remove leftover food particles, and it will kill any bacteria that’s lurking in your mouth.

Make a Dentist Appointment

You need to get your loose dental filling fixed as soon as possible in order to keep it from getting worse. You should make an appointment for an examination as soon as possible. Your dentist will examine your tooth so that they can determine why your filling came loose in the first place. They will also develop a treatment plan to fix it. If you don’t currently have a dentist, any general dentistry office should be able to help you.

Place Dental Wax Over It

Unfortunately, depending on your schedule and other factors, you may not be able to get to the dentist right away. If so, you need a temporary solution to keep the filling in place. Dental wax can be very beneficial. First, you will have to dry the tooth. Then, simply mold the wax to any shape that you want. Place it over the filling, and gently push it into place. It should help prevent any further damage until you can get in to see the dentist.

Avoid Eating on That Side

If you chew your food on the side where the loose filling is located, you can cause it to dislodge completely. To prevent this, you should avoid eating on that side. If it will be difficult to avoid chewing food in this area. It’s best to opt for soft foods until you can get the filling fixed.

If you discover that you have a loose filling, it’s important that you act quickly in order to minimize discomfort or damage to the tooth. By doing the four things mentioned above, you can keep your loose filling from getting worse.

Looking for a 100% all-natural liquid tooth oil and mouth rinse? Check out OraMD Original Strength and OraMD Extra Strength. Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral health and skincare. If you are looking for more health resources check out the Trusted Health Resources list. 

Written By:

Anita Ginsburg is a freelance writer from Denver, Colo. She studied at Colorado State University, and now writes articles about health, business, family and finance. A mother of two, she enjoys traveling with her family whenever she isn't writing. You can follow her on Twitter @anitaginsburg.

Reviewed By:

Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.