Recovering from a root canal can seem daunting. We’re here to help with these 4 essential tips for ensuring a speedy recovery.
Did you know that 57 percent of adults in the UAE would rather spend an hour in a room with ten spiders than get a root canal?
Getting and recovering from a root canal might seem intimidating, but there are steps that you can take to make it as stress-free and easy as possible.
Not only are root canals essential for the appearance of your teeth, but they provide increased health. To reap the benefits of your root canal recovery process, there are root canal recovery tips that you should learn about.
Continue reading to learn how to recover from a root canal procedure in no time!
What Is a Root Canal?
A root canal is a procedure that is designed to eliminate bacteria in an infected tooth. This process prevents reinfection and is a way to save the tooth that is in question.
The procedure involves removing the inflamed or infected pulp of the tooth. Once that is completed, the inside of the tooth undergoes a thorough cleaning and is disinfected. From there, the tooth is filled and then sealed.
Certain signs might indicate that you’ll need a root canal treatment. Keep on the lookout for severe pain when biting or chewing as well as pimples on your gums.
Other signs are a chipped or cracked tooth and lingering sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures for your teeth.
Recovering From a Root Canal
While root canals might not be something you’re looking forward to, it is important to remember that it will save your tooth and that it is a routine procedure. It is also important to know important tips to help the recovery from a root canal faster.
1. Manage Your Mouth
Once your surgery is completed, it is very important to pay attention to how your mouth feels and listen to what your body is telling you. There will be some pain and swelling after the surgery but there are ways to reduce and manage it.
You should start by waiting to eat food until your mouth is no longer numb. Eating while your mouth is still numb can lead to accidentally biting and severely injuring your tongue or the inside of your mouth.
A great idea is to use an ice pack after the procedure as a way to manage the swelling. You should also keep your head elevated when sleeping after the surgery as a way to avoid irritation of your mouth.
Take steps to plan your meals for the first few days after the procedure. A good idea is to find meals that require minimal chewing that still provide the nutrition that your body needs.
Some top options are smoothies, soups, and soft foods like oatmeal and mashed potatoes. These meals will satisfy your hunger without irritating your mouth.
2. Avoid Exercising
Exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, but it is wise to avoid exercising for a couple of days after your root canal. This will help your body with the root canal recovery process.
Take at least two days off from exercising after your root canal, and be sure to ask your dentist for their recommendation on when you’re good to begin your exercising regime again.
If you exercise too soon after the procedure it can lead to bleeding and make your mouth feel achy. Your recovery period is meant to allow your body to heal itself so you’ll need to take it easy to keep the recovery from taking longer and becoming more painful.
Once you’re ready to start exercising again, ease your way back into it. Try to find exercises that are meant for people recovering from surgery. These exercises will help you get the benefits of a workout without the strain that comes with it.
The best exercise to start with after the procedure is walking. It is best to start at a slow pace and ease yourself back into things.
3. Get the Rest You Need
Getting rest is vital to a strong and fast recovery from a root canal. You need to make an effort to get as much quality sleep as you can during this period. This will help you get back to feeling 100 percent again.
If your root canal treatment happens during your work week then it is a good idea to take a day or two off after the procedure to rest. This will lead to a quicker recovery time and get you back to living your normal life.
The best approach to recovering from a root canal quickly is to try to stay off of your feet and getting as much sleep as you can. This is especially true if you’re on any medicine intended for pain relief.
4. Be Aware of How You Feel
It is needless to say that you won’t feel like your usual self immediately after getting a root canal. You must be aware of how your body feels and what it is trying to tell you during the recovery process.
The swelling and pain should start to subside after a couple of days of recovery. If the pain doesn’t diminish, there might be complications that you need to get looked at like a possible infection.
If you notice swelling that lasts longer than a day you should contact your dentist. If you start having rashes or hives, that is also a concern that your dentist should bring up.
If your dentist is not available, the next step will be to contact an emergency dental service to get the help you need.
Leave a Reply