For some people, the idea of a root canal is somewhat of an uncomfortable topic. The fear of pain and the unknown can lead to apprehension about the procedure. The same is true when it comes to the recovery period. A lack of information can cause you to have a false sense of what your recovery period might be like. In order to ease some of your stress, make sure you familiarize yourself with a few of the most important root canal recovery tips.
Eating
When it comes to eating, use your body as a guide. In terms of food selection, there aren't really any foods that you can't have. However, each person's comfort and pain tolerance levels are different once the anesthesia begins to wear off.
For some people, a soft, baked potato is enough to cause pain to the sensitive ligaments and tissues that surround the canal site, and for others, it's not a problem. No matter what you eat, it's best to eat on the opposite side of your mouth from where the procedure was performed.
Infection
A serious concern after a root canal is the incision site becoming infected. Bacteria is a primary risk factor for this type of problem. The most effective way to prevent an infection is to keep your teeth clean with regular brushing and flossing. Leftover, bacteria-containing food particles can easily infect the area if you aren't keeping the tooth clean.
A significant infection can start in the area of the root canal and quickly spread into the sinus cavities, neck and other parts of the head. A common sign of infection is discoloration around the tooth, as well as severe pain.
Pain
A moderate level of pain is not at all uncommon while you are recovering from a root canal. Even though the nerve has been removed from the tooth, the tissues and nerves in the surrounding areas are still present and may be affected. Moderate tenderness or discomfort doesn't have to be a sign of a major problem.
In many instances, your dental provider will prescribe or suggest an anti-inflammatory medication to help you with the minor pain. On the contrary, pain that doesn't respond to the suggested medications or that is intolerable could be a signal of a problem and should quickly be brought to the attention of your provider.
When it comes to the recovery period, make sure you are bringing up any of your concerns with your dental provider. In many instances, prompt treatment can help eradicate any problems and ensure a smoother recovery.
Share7 October 2015
Hi, my name is Kevin Nelson and I want to tell you about my experience. I had a painful tooth so I went to see my dentist. After the examination, he said that I needed to have a root canal to save the tooth. I told the dentist to just pull the tooth instead and then he explained why that wasn't a good idea. He said that pulling the tooth would cause additional problems and then he told me what could happen. I didn't want any more problems, so the dentist did the root canal and I'm glad that he did. I wanted to write a blog to tell others about the benefits of a root canal and what to expect during the procedure. I hope that by getting the word out, other people won't make the same mistake that I almost did by getting a perfectly good tooth pulled.