# Tooth fillings: Should they be hurting to chew on 5 days later? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 15, 2009, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tooth-fillings-should-they-be-hurting-to-chew-on-5-days-later/510156 "2009-09-15T10:19:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KellyCriterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b3f665/32.png) [@KellyCriterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KellyCriterion)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tooth-fillings-should-they-be-hurting-to-chew-on-5-days-later/510156/1 "2009-09-15T10:19:18Z")
I recently had some fillings done on some of my back teeth, on the right hand side of my mouth. I avoided chewing on that side for 48 hours, as per my dentist’s request. Since resuming eating on that side, I sometimes get a very strong “tingling” sensation where the fillings are (similar to when you bite on tin-foil). I’d just like to know if this is normal, and is happening because the tooth is still repairing itself from the drilling? I appear to be experiencing the same situation as someone described in [this Yahoo questions thread](http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090213204755AA9JzDp). Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tooth-fillings-should-they-be-hurting-to-chew-on-5-days-later/510156/2 "2009-09-15T10:33:18Z")
I don’t think it should hurt. Chances are the tooth hasn’t been filed down enough and it is too high, causing undue pressure when you bite. The dentist should be able to check this out and file it down if necessary. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tooth-fillings-should-they-be-hurting-to-chew-on-5-days-later/510156/3 "2009-09-15T18:38:56Z")
I think **Colophon** ’s right - I had a lousy dentist once that didn’t take the proper time needed to make sure that the filling was filed down properly, and that sucker hurt for about a month. (Ja, I was stupid too by just living with it instead of going back in to see what was up.) Check with your dentist. ---
**Author:** ![FalconFinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@FalconFinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FalconFinder)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tooth-fillings-should-they-be-hurting-to-chew-on-5-days-later/510156/4 "2009-09-15T19:05:30Z")
If you have the new white fillings, they can be sensitive for quite some time after being put in. I’ve had some that were sensitive for months. If it’s bothersome, check with your dentist. ---
**Author:** ![KellyCriterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b3f665/32.png) [@KellyCriterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KellyCriterion)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tooth-fillings-should-they-be-hurting-to-chew-on-5-days-later/510156/5 "2009-09-15T19:11:17Z")
Thanks for the responses, yes, they’re “white fillings”. I’ll give it a few more days and see how I go. ---
**Author:** ![Taipan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Taipan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taipan)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tooth-fillings-should-they-be-hurting-to-chew-on-5-days-later/510156/6 "2009-09-15T19:17:18Z")
Yeah i had a filling a few years back that kept hurting for days, usually when i drank something cold. I went back to the dentist and he filed it down in about 5 minutes, worked perfectly and he didn’t charge me for the visit.