Losing a filling or crown can be unexpected, startling, and certainly alarming. They may fall out for a number of reasons such as when, over time, chewing hard foods loosens the filling or saliva breaks down the bonding. Worse still, a filling or crown might fall out because of tooth decay in which the foundation of the tooth rots away, causing it to lose support and fall out.
When the filling or crown falls out, you must take certain steps to protect the tooth. If left uncared for, food debris can get into the holes in your teeth and cause bacteria to grow and accelerate the decay. Tooth decay can lead to numerous other problems with teeth and gums, and it often can lead to a bad odor in your mouth.
If you find that your crown or filling has fallen out, regardless of the condition of the tooth underneath, you need to care for the tooth quickly before it becomes an even more difficult situation to handle. (more…)