ROOT CANAL AFTERCARE: WHAT TO EXPECT
If you’re having excruciating tooth pain, you may be experiencing a tooth infection, or may have otherwise damaged your tooth’s pulp. Fortunately, root canal therapy in Stamford can relieve your pain in a single visit. A root canal procedure is no more painful than a routine dental filling because you are given a local anesthetic. While you may feel some pressure, you won’t feel any pain.
Your tooth will remain numb for several hours and you may experience some mild pain or tenderness in the next few days that will gradually subside. To find out more about what to expect after a root canal procedure and how you can care for your tooth, read on.
PAIN & TENDERNESS
Root canals used to be synonymous with the word pain. However, old school dental techniques are no longer used, and modern dentistry has enabled us to perform this procedure painlessly. A root canal is meant to relieve your pain, not cause it.
While your mouth is numb, you won’t feel anything. However, once the anesthetic wears off, it’s normal to feel mild to moderate pain or tenderness in the first few days. If the pain is severe or does not go away, you should contact your Stamford dentist.
Since the procedure involves making an access hole into the tooth, it may be a little tender and cause temporary tooth sensitivity. This can be relieved with over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen.
WAIT FOR THE LOCAL ANESTHETIC TO WEAR OFF
Local anesthesia can numb the mouth for 4-6 hours, so you mustn’t eat or consume any hot foods or liquids until your mouth is back to normal. When you chew or consume something hot while your mouth is numb, you can accidentally bite or burn yourself without realizing it.
To prevent the risk of injury in an already sensitive area, it is best to wait it out and rest until your mouth is no longer numb. We recommend eating enough before your root canal procedure so you won’t get hungry too soon.
HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR TEETH
You will want to take it easy for the rest of the day and avoid strenuous activity. Intense exercise and sports can cause damage to your tooth’s temporary crown. Since your tooth may be quite sensitive or in pain in the first few days, you should be extra gentle with it and avoid chewing on this side of the mouth.
Keeping the mouth clean is important to prevent infection. You can brush and floss your teeth like normal but be careful around the tooth that has received the root canal. Floss very gently and avoid being too forceful. When brushing your teeth, make sure you use a soft-bristle toothbrush and brush gently around the affected tooth.
WHAT YOU CAN EAT
Refrain from eating at all until the anesthetic has worn off. Once your mouth is no longer numb, you can consume soft foods, such as applesauce, mashed potatoes, and yogurt. It is also a good idea to refrain from consuming very hot or cold foods that can contribute to tooth sensitivity immediately after a root canal.
Try sticking to room temperature foods and liquids at least for the first 24 hours. Do not eat hard, chewy, or sticky foods for the first few days. After a few days, once your tooth is less sensitive, and with the approval of your dentist, you can begin to reintroduce harder foods.
COMPLETING THE PROCEDURE AT CLEAR SMILE DENTAL STUDIO
Finally, it’s important to return to the dental office for any follow-up appointments or to complete the procedure if you have only received a temporary crown. At a separate appointment, you will receive a permanent crown to protect your tooth from damage and reinfection.
The dentist will also perform an exam to check that you are healing properly and there is no sign of infection. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Byungchul Park or Dr. Gitae Kwon, contact us at Clear Smile Dental Studio today.
