{"id":23767,"date":"2022-07-08T09:55:25","date_gmt":"2022-07-08T04:25:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/royalimplant.com\/blogs\/?p=23767"},"modified":"2026-07-05T18:41:10","modified_gmt":"2026-07-05T13:11:10","slug":"what-causes-tooth-decay-under-a-filling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/royalimplant.com\/blogs\/what-causes-tooth-decay-under-a-filling\/","title":{"rendered":"What causes tooth decay under a filling?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Even with preventive care, it is possible to develop cavities under a dental filling. However, you can reduce your risk of this happening again by taking good care of your teeth and gums. Keeping up with hygiene visits<\/a>, flossing regularly, and brushing twice daily are all great habits to keep when you have fillings. You should also avoid chewing on ice or another hard object that can break your filling. When it comes to avoiding tooth decay under a filling, diligence is the key. If you want to know what causes tooth decay under a filling, continue reading. Knowledge is power in any situation, especially when it concerns your oral health. Understanding why and how tooth decay occurs will help you take actions so it doesn\u2019t happen again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Who is this article for?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This article is for patients who already have a dental filling and now notice pain, sensitivity, food lodgement, bad smell, black margins, or discomfort while chewing from the same tooth. It is especially useful for people with old fillings, broken fillings, large cavities, repeated decay, or fillings that feel rough or loose. A filling protects a tooth, but it does not make the tooth decay-proof forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why decay can happen under an old filling?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Tooth decay under a filling usually happens when bacteria enter through a small gap, crack, leakage, or broken margin around the old filling. Sometimes the filling looks fine from outside, but decay may be active underneath. This is called secondary decay or recurrent decay. Regular dental check-ups and X-rays help detect these hidden cavities before they reach the nerve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Signs your filling may need replacement<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A filling may need replacement if there is pain while biting, sensitivity to cold or sweets, food getting stuck repeatedly, bad smell from one tooth, rough edges, dark lines around the filling, or a piece of the filling breaking off. The dentist may repair, replace, polish, or remove the filling depending on the depth of decay and remaining tooth strength.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"tooth
Dental decay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Cavity
Dental Filling<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Cyst<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How can tooth decay form under a filling?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A cavity occurs when bacteria in your mouth combines with sugar from food and drinks. The bacteria produce acid from the sugar, which turns into dental plaque. This plaque can lead to tooth decay if it isn\u2019t removed. Tooth decay is a process, and it can start as soon as a person has a filling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This can happen before or after the filling has been placed. The reason this happens is because the filling does not reach the entire tooth. This leaves an opening for bacteria and sugar to create plaque, which can lead to a cavity forming. The cavity can start as a small hole but then become larger. Once the cavity grows to a certain point, it can break through the tooth\u2019s surface and become visible. This is called a dental decay<\/a> or cavity. It can affect the filling, the tooth, or both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What foods cause cavities?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are certain foods that can cause cavities under a filling. These include sugary and sticky foods. If you chew on these foods after your dental filling has been placed, a cavity can form. Some examples of sugary and sticky foods that can cause cavities are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n