Kissing after inlay/onlay: the short version
You can kiss when you feel comfortable after an inlay or onlay appointment. No medical concern applies. These restorations sit in back teeth, well away from the lips, and are not affected by kissing at any stage. The usual wait is simply for the numbness in your lip and cheek to pass.
What is actually going on
An inlay or onlay is bonded into a molar or premolar, so it plays no part in a kiss. The after-effects of the appointments are what you will notice. After each visit one side of the lip and cheek is numb for a few hours, and with a lower tooth half the tongue as well, which makes kissing clumsy and biting your own lip a possibility. During the week or two between visits, the tooth holds a temporary filling. It is out of the way at the back of the mouth, and a partner's tongue is not going to dislodge it, though the material can have a medicinal taste. After the final bonding there may be a faint chemical taste for an hour and some sensitivity to cold. Neither affects anyone else.
The first time, step by step
An inlay or onlay is in a back tooth and has no say in kissing, so the first one waits only for your lip, cheek, and tongue to wake up. Back-tooth numbing lasts a few hours and often takes half the tongue with it. Check by pressing your lips together and moving your tongue to both corners of your mouth. The jaw may be tired from a long appointment, so keep things gentle and avoid opening wide. If you are between visits, the temporary is far out of reach of a kiss. A tooth that becomes painful, or a temporary that feels loose to your tongue, is one to report to your dentist.
Kiss After Inlay/Onlay: What You Need to Know
Wait time
After a inlay/onlay, you can resume kissing when comfortable.
Why
No concerns
Tips for Kissing After Inlay/Onlay
- 01Wait until your lip, cheek, and tongue have full feeling again after each appointment.
- 02Rinse with water if the taste of the temporary filling or bonding materials lingers.
- 03If the temporary feels loose or the tooth becomes painful between visits, contact your dentist.
Common mistakes
- 01Chewing gum before a kiss to cover the medicinal taste while a temporary is in the tooth. Gum is one of the things that pulls temporaries out, which trades a faint taste for an open cavity.
- 02Kissing while the tongue is still numb and biting it without knowing. A bitten tongue swells and stays sore for days, well after the tooth itself has stopped being an issue.
- 03Clenching the back teeth during a long kiss when the bite on the new restoration is slightly high. A high spot that goes unnoticed at rest shows itself as a sore tooth afterward, and the dentist can adjust it.
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.