If you surveyed a large portion of Americans, you’d be hard-pressed to find many people who said that they enjoyed going to the dentist. And what about having to get dental surgery — like a root canal treatment? That’s an even less enjoyable experience.
If you have an upcoming treatment, though, we have some helpful advice for you. Here are 5 tips on how to care for your mouth after a root canal treatment.
1. Be Mindful When You’re Eating
After a root canal treatment or any other type of dental surgery, you need to be extra mindful when you’re eating. If food particles get caught in or around the tooth where the surgery was performed, an infection can quickly take hold — and no one wants that.
To ensure that no infections occur, be careful while you’re eating. It’s a good idea to eat soft foods which are easier to consume for the first few days after treatment as well. That way, you’ll minimize risks even further.
2. Pay Attention to the Pain
Keeping a close eye on the amount of pain you experience post surgery is also important.
There are certain types of pain which are to be expected after surgery, and then there are others which may signal a larger issue for which you may need assistance from your doctor or dentist. If the pain from your root canal treatment does not subside within a few days of the procedure, it’s a good idea too be on the safe side and contact your dentist immediately.
3. Take All Prescriptions As Directed
This should go without saying. To avoid further discomfort (and infection, in some cases), it’s of vital importance that you take any prescribed antibiotics and painkillers as directed by your dentist. If you are prescribed a narcotic, you’ll want to abstain from drinking alcohol, driving, or operating heavy machinery while it’s in your system.
4. Keep It Clean
Continuing to take care of your teeth is after surgery is imperative. Brush and floss as you normally would, but always be mindful of the tooth and gums where the surgery occurred. To keep those areas clean, you can rinse your mouth out gently with warm salt water. This may help to alleviate some of your pain, too.
5. Don’t Put Unnecessary Pressure On the Area
To avoid causing yourself additional and unnecessary pain, you’ll want to avoid placing any pressure on the affected areas to the best of your ability. It should go without saying that doing things like grinding your teeth, chewing on your cheeks, or clenching your jaw are big no-nos.
Have a Successful Recovery from Your Root Canal Treatment
Of course, no surgery is going to be a cakewalk, but if you follow each of the tips we’ve provided in this post, you’ll be on your way to a successful recovery in no time. Yay!
And if you have any further questions or concerns after the procedure, don’t hesitate to reach out to us or schedule an appointment today.
