In short: If a filling falls out, keep the area clean, avoid chewing on that side, and cover the hole with temporary dental filling material from a pharmacy if it’s sensitive. Don’t leave it long — the exposed tooth can decay or break, so book a dentist to replace it soon, even if it doesn’t hurt.
Losing a filling isn’t usually an emergency, but the tooth is now unprotected, so it needs replacing before problems set in. Here’s how to manage it in the meantime:
- Keep the area clean. Rinse gently with warm salt water after meals to remove trapped food, and keep brushing the tooth gently.
- Avoid chewing on that side, and steer clear of very hot, cold, sweet or hard foods, which can trigger sensitivity or break the weakened tooth.
- Protect a sensitive or sharp hole with over-the-counter temporary filling material or dental wax from a pharmacy. This is a short-term measure only.
- Ease discomfort with a painkiller you tolerate if needed. Sugar-free gum can temporarily plug a cavity in a pinch, but don’t rely on it.
- Keep the filling if it came out in one piece and it’s a crown or inlay — the dentist may be able to recement it.
Don’t put off getting it fixed, even if there’s no pain. Without the filling, the exposed inner tooth decays faster and the weakened walls can crack — turning a simple re-fill into a bigger, costlier treatment like a crown or root canal.
Book an appointment to have it replaced promptly — a fresh, natural-looking tooth-coloured filling will restore and protect the tooth.