Congratulations! You’ve made it through your root canal procedure. At Sol Dental, we know that the anticipation of dental work is often worse than the appointment itself. Now that the hard part is over, your focus should shift to recovery.
Root canal therapy is a fantastic way to save a tooth that might otherwise need to be extracted. While the procedure clears out infection and relieves pain, the healing process depends largely on how you care for yourself in the days following your visit. To help you heal quickly and comfortably, we’ve put together this easy-to-read guide on what to expect and how to take care of your smile at home.
Immediate Care: The First Few Hours
Root canal therapy often takes one or two appointments to complete. After each visit where anesthetic is used, your lips, teeth, and tongue may feel numb for several hours. This is completely normal, but it does require a bit of caution.
While you are still numb, it is very easy to accidentally bite your cheek, lip, or tongue without realizing it. For this reason, we strongly recommend that you avoid any chewing on the side of the treated tooth until the numbness has completely worn off. Stick to smoothies, yogurt, or other soft foods that don’t require heavy chewing until you have full feeling back in your mouth.
Caring for Your Temporary Filling or Crown
To protect your tooth between appointments, your dentist will place a temporary filling or crown. Think of this as a temporary shield. It keeps food and bacteria out, but it isn’t as strong as your permanent restoration will be.
It is common—and not a problem—for a small portion of your temporary filling or crown to wear away or break off during normal eating. However, if the entire filling falls out or if a temporary crown comes completely off, please call our office immediately so we can replace it.
To keep your temporary restoration safe and secure:
- Avoid Sticky Foods: Chewing gum, caramel, or taffy can pull the temporary filling right out.
- Skip Hard Foods: Avoid biting down on hard substances like ice, nuts, hard candy, or non-food items like fingernails and pencils.
- Chew Strategically: If possible, try to do most of your chewing on the opposite side of your mouth.
Managing Comfort and Swelling
It is normal to experience some discomfort for several days after a root canal therapy appointment, especially when chewing. In fact, it is not uncommon for a tooth to feel uncomfortable or even exhibit a dull ache immediately after the procedure. This happens because the tissues around the tooth may be inflamed.
Even if you were not in pain before the treatment, you might feel some tenderness afterward. This is normal and no cause for alarm. The discomfort typically subsides within a few days, though it can sometimes take a week or two to fully resolve.
Pain Management Tips
- Medication: If we prescribed pain medication, take it exactly as recommended. If we did not prescribe a specific pain reliever, over-the-counter options work very well. We recommend ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) or naproxen (Aleve) to help reduce inflammation and pain.
- Antibiotics: If antibiotics were prescribed, continue to take them for the full indicated length of time. Do not stop taking them early, even if you feel better and all signs of infection are gone. Finishing the bottle ensures the infection is completely eliminated.
- Salt Water Rinses: To further reduce pain and swelling, rinse your mouth three times a day with warm salt water. Simply dissolve a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water, swish gently, and spit.
Oral Hygiene and Home Care
Just because you had surgery doesn’t mean you should stop cleaning your teeth. In fact, keeping your mouth clean is essential for healing.
- Brush and Floss: Continue to brush and floss normally. Just be gentle around the treated tooth and the gums surrounding it.
- Watch for Swelling: Should you experience discomfort that cannot be controlled with pain medications, or should visible swelling develop inside or outside the mouth, please call our office right away.
The Final Step: Your Permanent Crown
Usually, the last step after root canal treatment is the placement of a permanent crown on the tooth. This is a critical part of the process. A root canal removes the blood supply to the tooth, which can make the remaining tooth structure more brittle over time.
A crown covers the tooth like a cap, protecting it from the strong forces of chewing and preventing it from breaking in the future. Unless otherwise noted by your dentist, it is critical to have a crown placed on your root canal-treated tooth as soon as possible. Delaying this final restoration may result in a fracture or even the loss of the tooth you worked so hard to save.
When to Contact Sol Dental
We are here to support you every step of the way. If your bite feels uneven once the numbness wears off, if you have persistent pain that isn’t getting better, or if you have any other questions or concerns, please call our dental office. Your comfort is our priority!