After a dental filling, the time you should wait before eating depends on the type of filling you receive:
- For composite (tooth-colored) fillings, which harden almost immediately under a UV light, you can generally eat as soon as the numbness from anesthesia wears off, typically after about 1 to 2 hours. However, it's best to avoid chewing too soon if your mouth is still numb to prevent biting your cheek or tongue.
- For amalgam (silver) fillings, these take about 24 hours to fully harden. Dentists usually recommend waiting a full day before chewing on the treated side to allow the filling to set properly and avoid damage.
In all cases, it's advisable to start with soft foods and avoid hard, crunchy, or chewy foods for a few days to protect the filling and the treated tooth. Therefore, if you have a composite filling, you can eat after about 1 to 2 hours once numbness subsides. For amalgam fillings, wait at least 24 hours before eating normally on that side.
