There’s no getting away from the fact that root canal treatment is one of the most feared dental procedures. However, the techniques and tools used to perform root canals have rapidly advanced and improved during the last few decades, and today, root canal treatment is rarely any more stressful, painful or problematic than any other dental procedure.

What is Root Canal Treatment?

Root canal treatment is used to treat infections that form at the center of a tooth, in an area that is known as the pulp. Patients with this type of dental infection usually suffer from toothache when eating, drinking, biting, and chewing, and may find that the affected tooth starts to feel loose. As the infection progresses, swelling and pus oozing from around the affected tooth may start to occur.

Root canal treatment has a very high success rate, with as many as nine out of ten people retaining their affected tooth for 10 years or more following their procedure. Nevertheless, the way that you take for your tooth directly after your root canal surgery can directly affect the success of the procedure. With this in mind, here’s what you need to know about how to care for your teeth after a root canal procedure.

Immediately After Root Canal Treatment

Root canal treatment is usually performed under a local anesthetic unless your personal circumstances mean that sedation or general anesthetic is necessary. Your mouth will be numbed while your dentist performs the treatment and will likely continue to be numb for several hours afterward. This may make drinking difficult, and you should not consume hot food or drinks, in case you burn your mouth. You should also avoid eating as you could inadvertently bite the inside of your mouth and cause damage.

After your root canal treatment, your dentist will use a temporary crown or cavity filling to cover the top of your tooth. This will stop further bacteria from entering the tooth and causing reinfection.

While this temporary cover is in place, you should take extra care to ensure that it stays in place. You will be recommended to:
 

• Avoid sticky, hard, or chewy foods
   

• Avoid chewing gum
   

• Continue to brush your teeth normally but with care
   

• Only chew on one side of your mouth
   

• Floss carefully from side to side rather than up and down

A little discomfort is normal after a root canal procedure, but the pain should never become bad enough to need prescription pain relief. Instead, mild over-the-counter medications and anti-inflammatories should be enough to keep you comfortable.

Around seven days after your procedure, you’ll be asked to attend a follow-up appointment so that your dentist can check that all of the infection has been eradicated and that the root canal treatment has been successful. If so, your dentist will arrange for you to have a permanent crown or filling to permanently seal the tooth.

Always follow the post-operative instructions provided by your dentist. For more on how to care for your teeth after a root canal, visit SmileOn Dentistry in Marina Del Rey, CA. Call (310) 822-0202 to schedule an appointment today.