In addition to any physical sensations you may feel, you may be able to see signs that your fillings need replacement. One sign that your fillings may need replaced is seeing holes or dark spots. You may notice these while brushing or flossing your teeth every day. Paying attention for these signs can ensure you get prompt treatment and may minimize the risk of infection in your oral cavity. If you floss your teeth daily, look at the floss in between each tooth. You may notice tears in the floss or pieces of food it may have removed. These can be signs of cracked teeth and/or a filling that needs replaced. Note which tooth either shreds the floss or always seems to have food stuck in it. This can help your dentist better identify which filling needs replacement, but in cases like this an x-ray is almost always a must. Most people love the feeling of clean and smooth teeth. You may notice that you have a tooth that never feels smooth even after brushing and flossing. This may be a sign that a filling needs replaced. Keep an eye on the tooth and notice if anything makes the roughness worse or better. If it doesn't get any smoother, let you dentist know. In some cases, you may be able to see when a filling needs replaced. If you notice any physical symptoms, check inside your mouth to see if you have any fillings that are visibly broken, cracked, or missing. Contact your dentist for an appointment to confirm that you need the filling replaced. Wash your hands thoroughly with warm water and soap before putting them in or near your mouth. This can minimize your risk of introducing harmful bacteria into your mouth. Even if you can't see a problematic filling, a chipped or fractured tooth may also indicate that you need a filling replaced. If you have physical symptoms but can't see any cracked, broken, or missing fillings, check the surrounding teeth. They may have chips or fractures that need the attention of your dentist. Use your tongue to identify any sharp edges or missing structures. Food that gets stuck in daily is also a sign that your old filling needs replacement Be aware that cracks and chips may be so small that you can't detect them with your eye alone. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before looking for chipped or fractured teeth. This can prevent an infection. There are different kinds of dental filling material. Each has a different life span. Knowing what kind of filling you have can help you know if it's time to replace it. Recognize that the durability of the fillings also depends on how well you care for your oral health. If you take great care of your teeth and gums, then your fillings may last longer. The following are different types of fillings and their average life spans: Gold fillings, which can last for up to 15 years. Amalgam fillings, which are silver in color, can also last up to 15 years. Composite fillings, made of a material that matches your own tooth color, may need replacing after five years. Ceramic fillings can last about 7 years.

Summary: Observe holes or dark spots. Inspect floss for tears and food particles. Feel the tooth surface for roughness. Look for a broken, cracked, or lost filling. Identify chipped or fractured teeth. Determine what kind of dental filling you have.

The treatments below are potentially strong enough to damage or discolor your carpet. Always test them on a small, hidden spot of your carpet first. Let them sit for at least 15 minutes, or until dry, then check for damage. Silk and wool carpets are notoriously easy to damage, and you may not even want to risk a corner. Consider hiring a professional instead. Scrape a butter knife across the carpet fibers to remove flecks of dried blood. This gives you a head start on heavy spills, but won't do the trick by itself. This is not recommended for valuable carpets. This chemical breaks down proteins in the blood stain, making it easier to remove. Mix this with an equal amount of cold water, then dab onto the stain. Let sit 1530 minutes, then blot with a clean towel. Rinse off with a drop of liquid detergent mixed into cold water. Avoid flavored meat tenderizer, which can create new stains. This may break down fibers in wool or silk carpets, since these also contain animal protein. Hydrogen peroxide lightens the color of your carpet fibers, hiding the stain. Wet the stain with 3% hydrogen peroxide. Let dry in a well-lit room, and it will break down with no further need for rinsing. This is a risky method for carpets with dark or vivid colors, but much safer than using bleach. Most drugstores sell 3% hydrogen peroxide. If your bottle is more concentrated, dilute some to 3% strength. (For instance, mix one part 9% hydrogen peroxide with two parts cold water.) Ammonia is highly effective, but may discolor the carpet and damage wool or silk. While you can use the ammonia treatment by itself, it is most effective following ordinary detergent: Mix 2 teaspoons (10 mL) shampoo or liquid dishwashing detergent in 1 cup (240 mL) water. Spray on carpet and let sit for five minutes. Mix 1 tablespoon (15 mL) household ammonia in 1 cup (240 mL) room temperature water. Take care not to inhale ammonia fumes. Blot shampoo dry, then spray on ammonia. Let sit five minutes, then blot dry again. Spray on water and blot dry, to rinse. Commercial enzyme cleaners break down the complex chemicals found in blood and other organic stains. Apply according to label instructions, typically by spraying over the stain, letting it sit, then blotting dry. These are often sold as pet urine removers. Some environmentally friendly laundry detergents contain enzyme cleaners, but use these only if you can't find a product designed for carpets. These products may not work as well at cold or very hot temperatures. Do not apply to wool or silk carpets, since the cleaner may break them down along with the blood. Once the stain is removed, set up an electric fan blowing over the wet area, or open the windows and doors to create a breeze. This speeds up drying, which reduces the chance of hidden blood in the backing rising to the surface. Your carpet fiber may feel stiff or crusty once it dries. A quick use of a vacuum or carpet brush should restore it to its original feel.
Summary: Test each treatment on a hidden area first. Brush with a dull knife (optional). Apply unflavored meat tenderizer. Wet the tufts with hydrogen peroxide. Soak in shampoo, then ammonia. Use an enzyme cleaner. Dry the carpet in an area with good air flow. Vacuum or brush the carpet.