The first step is to rest and give the tooth time to heal. After undergoing root canals, the next step is to take care of your teeth. It’s important to make sure you brush and floss twice each day to prevent further decay or infection.
It is necessary to not chew on the tooth, bite your nails or play with the tooth in any way. Chewing and biting can cause damage to the area and also contribute to pain. Once you have healed, there are a few things you should know about what you can do after a root canal procedures. And in this blog, we are going to talk about what can you do after the root canal treatment.
In This Article
What should we do after root canal?
For the treated tooth, there are many things we need to do. As well as root canal aftercare, we need to make sure the tooth is protected. The first thing to do is wear a temporary filling. It’s generally made of metal to cover the root canal and may be applied by using composite resin, which is tooth-colored. It will prevent the tooth from moving around in your mouth. If you have had a root canal procedure, here are things you need to do for proper dental care:
1. Eat soft foods
Though your dentist may prescribe liquid or soft foods while the tooth is still very fragile, which diverts busy chewing to other areas. For having natural teeth you should use a soft-bristled brush to clean the teeth gently. If possible, use fluoride toothpaste but make sure you don’t swallow it. Eat soft foods like mashed potatoes, yogurt, and soups.
2. Practice good oral hygiene
However, after the root canal procedure, it is advisable to brush your teeth, tongue, and roof of the mouth with fluoride toothpaste. If you are using commercial mouthwashes or rinses then remember not to swallow any of them. Well, practicing good oral hygiene activity including flossing is always important, but it’s even more crucial after a root canal.
3. Avoid inflammation causes
After having a root canal procedure, it is important to avoid any type of irritation that could cause an inflammatory response. This includes eating crunchy foods, acidic or chewy foods as well as brushing the treated teeth too vigorously. Be sure to brush and floss your teeth normally, using a soft-bristled toothbrush and gentle circular motions.
4. Do focus on pain management
Root canals are almost always painful but after restoring, you will still feel tooth pain. This is because the restorative process has not been completed yet and that is why we apply a temporary filling on root canal teeth. Once this restored tooth is fitted with a crown or a post & core restoration, it will be fully protected from bacteria and further damage and you will not feel any sharp pain. So, for post treatment care you have to manage your pain as well.
5. No sweet or sticky foods
Bacteria thrive on sugar and can cause an infection. So avoid eating any sticky or sugary foods for a few days after the root canal. This will give your oral bacteria time to die off and help the healing process. Sometimes sticky foods like taffy can get stuck to your tooth or gums. So avoid it for a couple of days, until the gum around the treatment site heals.
6. Avoid hard or hot foods
After the root canal procedure, you should avoid foods that are hard, spicy, or hot to the touch. These kinds of foods may damage the temporary filling you have. The tooth can also be damaged by chewing on ice cubes made of frozen juice, which is similar in consistency to teeth enamel. The root canals are still healing, so it is important to be careful with what you eat.
What to expect after root canal treatment?
After root canal treatment, your tooth experiences a deep clean that can leave it sensitive for weeks to months. Some people experience discomfort after the procedure, which can be relieved by non-narcotic pain medication prescribed by their dentist.
Some patients also experience tingling, but this should subside within 10-14 days post-treatment. Your dentist will recommend post-operative interventions that are tailored to your individual needs. Root canal treatments are one of the most popular dental procedures performed in America because they save teeth from extraction and preserve hygiene and smile health for years down the road.
Therefore, in endodontic treatment, an infected or damaged tooth’s nerve and pulp are removed and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed. Many people assume that once their root canal treatment is complete, it will stop hurting and they’ll never feel pain again in that tooth.
However, this isn’t quite true: patients may experience some degree of discomfort for a few weeks after their root canal treatment as their tooth heals. This is because the area that was treated is now clean and free of infection. You may be prescribed pain medication to help relieve any discomfort you experience.
