After you’ve made the decision to get a root canal, you want your recovery to go as quickly and smoothly as possible. While root canal therapy is a very common procedure and certainly not something to fear, it is important that you follow the right steps right after your treatment to speed up the healing process. Here are some tips to help you on your root canal recovery.
Take Over-the-Counter Pain Medication
Rinse with Warm Salt Water
Eat Soft Foods
Get Some Rest
First off we want to reassure you that with the local anesthetic that’s used, getting a root canal should not be painful at all. When that anesthetic wears off, it’s normal to experience some discomfort right after the treatment. This feeling will go away with time, but until it does, you can manage it with some over-the-counter pain medication.
A warm salt water rinse does a great job of keeping your mouth clean and preventing infection in the root canal treatment site. It can also help control any swelling. To make the rinse, mix about half a teaspoon of salt for every cup of warm water. Gently swish with this rinse three times a day for the next few days.
Stay away from hard or crunchy foods until the area around your root canal is healed. Also avoid hot or spicy foods for a few days. We recommend soft foods that are cool or warm and easy to eat. You’ll be back to your favorite foods in no time but if you take care with your diet after the surgery, you will heal faster.
You may think that because a root canal is a treatment in your mouth, you don’t really need to worry about the rest of your body during recovery. The truth is, getting lots of rest and staying off your feet can actually help with your recovery. Exercising too much and too soon can cause bleeding at the treatment site. If you can manage it, try blocking off a day or two after your root canal treatment.
Root Canal Therapy in Liberty, MO
If you have any additional questions or concerns about your recovery after root canal treatment, please feel free to email or call us at Seaport Family Dentistry. We provide gentle root canal therapy at our Liberty dental practice. Our experienced team is here to help in any way that we can.