Sometimes, if you do not care for your cavities, bacteria invade the pulp of your teeth and cause infection. It later causes a lot of pain for the person, and a tooth abscess develops, thus increasing the pain. A root canal is a procedure that rids you of this pain by sealing off the cavities. The dentist or endodontist cleans the infected pulp inside your teeth and seals it off, thus preventing any potential infections.
Getting a root canal might be painful and cause discomfort, but you need not worry as you can follow a few tips to heal better and faster. You can contact a Brookline general dentist to get a root canal or learn better ways to care for yourself post-treatment.
How do I know I need to get a root canal?
You should determine your symptoms to decide when to visit your dentist. Although it is advisable to go to them if you feel suspicious about having a dental problem, knowing a little about yourself is no harm.
- Persistent pain
- Abscessed teeth
- Swollen, red, or tender gums
- Moving or loose tooth/teeth
Root canal aftercare tips
You need to keep a few things in mind as you recover after your treatment.
Right after your root canal treatment
As you will be highly sedated during the procedure, your gums will be numb, and you might not feel any sensation in most of your mouth. It is best to avoid eating or drinking anything, as you might bite or damage the part of your mouth where the root canal has been performed. Once you feel the numbness in your gums has gone, you can consume foods like yogurt, juice, or fruit smoothies. Avoid eating hard or spicy foods- anything that might irritate your mouth.
During the next few days
You must follow these tips, as they are vital to increasing the speed of your recovery.
- Eat only soft foods so that you do not have to chew a lot
- Avoid spicy foods
- Use mouthwash to maintain oral hygiene
- Do not eat hard foods that require you to apply a lot of pressure on your jaw while chewing.
- Brush and floss gently around the area where the root canal was performed
- Do not eat chewy foods like gum that require you to chew a lot
- Eat or drink foods that are at mild temperatures and are not either too hot or too cold
Managing your pain
You need not worry if you still feel pain weeks after your treatment. Just take the prescribed medications correctly. Some over-the-counter painkillers include ibuprofen and acetaminophen that you can take to relieve the pain.