Brushing your teeth after inlay/onlay: the short version
Brush the same day, as normal. Once an inlay or onlay is bonded in, it is brushed and flossed like the rest of the tooth. Many people first spend a week or two with a temporary filling in the prepared tooth while a lab makes the final piece, and during that stretch brushing is still fine but floss should be drawn out sideways so it does not lift the temporary.
What is actually going on
An inlay sits within the cusps of a back tooth and an onlay extends over one or more of them, so most of the join between restoration and tooth runs across the chewing surface and down between the teeth. That hidden side, where the piece meets the neighboring tooth, is where plaque does its damage and where a brush never reaches. Flossing is therefore the important habit here. On the first night, floss should click through the contact and slide out cleanly. If it shreds, a trace of bonding cement may be left at the edge. The tooth can be sensitive to cold for a while after the bonding visit, as with any deep restoration, and the gum between the teeth may be sore where a wedge or band was placed.
The first time, step by step
Brush the same evening once the numbness has cleared. With the final piece bonded in, brush the chewing surface so the bristles work into the grooves, then the sides, as you would for any back tooth. The edges should feel level with the tooth. With a temporary still in place, use lighter strokes over it and expect a slight taste. Flossing is the part that matters most. Ease the floss down beside the restored tooth and, if a temporary is in, pull it out through the side. The gum between the teeth may be tender where a wedge sat. Tell your dentist if the floss frays.
Brush Teeth After Inlay/Onlay: What You Need to Know
Wait time
After a inlay/onlay, you can typically resume brushing your teeth same day.
Why
Normal care
Tips for Brushing your teeth After Inlay/Onlay
- 01While the temporary is in place, brush normally but release one end of the floss and pull it through instead of lifting it out.
- 02After the final piece is bonded, floss that tooth daily; the edge between the teeth is its most vulnerable point.
- 03If floss catches or frays at the same spot each night, ask your dentist to check for excess cement.
Common mistakes
- 01Scrubbing the temporary to get rid of its taste or its rough feel. The material is soft and wears under hard brushing, and a worn temporary lets food and cold reach the prepared tooth.
- 02Pushing an interdental brush through a contact that is newly tight. If the brush has to be forced it is too big for the space, and floss is the right tool there.
- 03Testing the edge of the new piece with a pin or the tip of a toothpick. Probing a fresh margin can chip the fine line of cement, and checking it is what the dentist's instruments are for.
Other Activities After Inlay/Onlay
See when you can do other activities after your inlay/onlay:
Table 1 — Other activities after inlay/onlay
| Activity | Wait |
|---|---|
| Use a Straw | When numbness wears off |
| Eat Normally | 24 hours |
| Smoke | No restriction |
| Drink Alcohol | No restriction |
| Drive | Immediately |
| Exercise | Immediately |
Recovery info
Recovery timelines are general guidelines based on typical cases. Individual recovery may vary based on your health, the complexity of your procedure, and other factors. Your own dentist's or surgeon's post-operative instructions always take priority over anything on this page. Call them if you are unsure.