You might be happy to find out that composite resin fillings are guaranteed to last for years, provided you also follow some simple maintenance instructions. These fillings are increasingly popular these days because they are almost invisible to the untrained eye while providing adequate teeth protection.
Keep reading to discover what you can do on a daily basis to prolong the lifespan of your composite fillings and enjoy better overall oral health.
Brush Your Teeth More Often
You probably have heard this a thousand times but brushing your teeth can indeed protect your composite resin fillings and prevent additional damage to the oral cavity. Make sure that you brush your teeth early in the morning, right after waking up. This will clear away most of the plaque and/or bacteria that has been building up overnight.
Also, you should brush your teeth before going to bed at night. This will remove food remains and prevent them from causing an infection while you sleep. Infections can damage your teeth and also deteriorate your composite resin fillings.
Wear a Mouthguard if You Have Bruxism
Bruxism is a condition in which a person clenches his/her jaw and teeth during sleep. This usually happens involuntarily and it can have a damaging effect on teeth later on. In some cases, certain people clench their teeth while they are awake and this might happen as a result of excessive stress, worries, and so on.
Bruxism can significantly deteriorate the health of your teeth and composite resin fillings alike. If you know that you clench your teeth during sleep, talk to your dentist. He or she might be able to recommend a special type of mouthguard to prevent teeth clenching at night. This will also prevent teeth deterioration over time.
If you don’t know if you have bruxism (many people fit this category), you should talk with your partner. Sometimes, teeth grinding and clenching at night can become so obvious that your partner might notice. Your dentist can also inspect your teeth and see if they are chipped or if the enamel is deteriorated.
Visit Your Dentist At Least Twice a Year
This might sound like a cliché, but going to your dentist regularly can have profound effects on the health of your teeth. At the same time, your dentist can tell you more on how to care for your composite fillings, whether they are damaged or not, etc.
At the same time, regular dentist visits can also prevent other types of oral problems that might arise such as teeth cracks, bad breath, gum disease, and so on.
As you can see, there are many things you can do to prolong the lifespan of your composite resin fillings. Keep in mind that these fillings can last up to 10 years with proper care, so why shouldn’t you maximize the lifespan of this dental service?
Contact Dr. Alex today and learn more about how to care for your composite resin fillings. Dr. Alex has treated hundreds of patients already and he is a trustworthy dentist located in NYC.
