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Do you feel pain when eating or drinking hot, cold, spicy, or sugary foods and beverages? Do you also experience a stabbing or throbbing sensation when biting or chewing? Do these unpleasant sensations occur in a loose tooth whose surrounding gums also look swollen?
Those are all signs you need a root canal treatment (RCT) due to a pulp infection.
A root canal treatment can save your tooth, provided you get it immediately. Indeed, this procedure has saved millions of teeth from extraction.
However, it’s crucial to note that the root canal recovery timeline and success rate depend highly on post-treatment care. So, if you’re getting an RCT, it pays to know how to avoid root canal reinfection and what you can do to help your mouth heal faster.
We’ve shared insights to help with your recovery, so read on.
Don’t Bear the Pain
Root canal treatment is usually painless, as your dentist will likely administer sedation before the procedure. An example is IV sedation, a commonly used sedative for RCTs, according to this guide on sedation dentistry in Union, KY. With this, the treatment should be no more unpleasant than getting a dental filling.
However, the treated area may develop inflammation and soreness once the sedative wears off. To minimize swelling and discomfort, apply a cold or ice compress to the side of your face where the treated tooth is.
Your dentist may also instruct you to take pain medications after treating your infected root canal. Please follow your dentist’s instructions to a T, as not addressing the pain can interfere with sleep. You don’t want that, as getting good quality sleep is crucial to your body’s repair and recovery.
Aim for Good Quality Sleep
Since sleep is critical to your post-RCT recovery and overall health, you should aim to get at least seven hours of good-quality ZZZs every night. Here are some tips to help you reach this goal:
- Stop looking at blue light screens (e.g., smart devices and TVs) two hours before bedtime
- Avoid drinking caffeinated beverages late in the afternoon
- Minimize artificial lights in your sleeping environment
- Try sleeping in the dark
- Set the thermostat to a comfortable temperature
- Minimize fluid intake one to two hours before bedtime to reduce nighttime bathroom visits
You may also want to try blocking out noises with ear mufflers or playing ambient sounds in low volume. These tactics may help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.
Avoid Strenuous Activity
Please refrain from strenuous activity during the first 48 hours after your root canal treatment. Physical activities can boost blood flow throughout the body (including the oral cavity). That increased circulation can lead to more swelling and discomfort in the treated area.
Exercises like running and jogging can also make you more aware of the pain in your mouth. That’s because you’ll likely feel the impact of heavy footsteps on your mouth.
Mind Your Tooth and Diet
Dentists usually perform an RCT over two sessions or appointments.
On the first appointment, your dentist opens the affected tooth to access the soft pulp inside. They’ll remove the infected sections, clean and disinfect the root canal, and seal it with a temporary filling.
Your dentist will then instruct you to return after a few days. On the second visit, your dentist will replace the temporary seal with a longer-lasting root canal filling. They’ll then apply a crown or tooth filling as a final seal to help prevent reinfections.
So, before the second visit, your treated tooth will be susceptible to fracture. For this reason, you should be careful not to bite or chew on the treated side of your mouth. Otherwise, your tooth may crack, increasing its risk for new infections or complete breakage.
To prevent those complications, eat soft foods that require minimal chewing, such as soups, mashed veggies, yogurt, or eggs.
Avoid Tobacco
Tobacco use, whether chewed, smoked, or inhaled through a pipe, makes you more likely to develop gum disease. It also weakens your body’s immune system, impairing its healing abilities. So, if you use tobacco after an RCT, it may take longer for you to recover completely.
Researchers also say there’s a link between the likelihood of root-filled teeth (RFT) extractions and smoking. For instance, patients who smoke are three times more likely to require RFT extractions. Because of this, it appears that smoking increases the risk of endodontic treatment failure.
So, if you smoke, do your best to avoid or quit after you’ve had an RCT. Doing so may not only help you recover faster but may also improve your overall health.
Stay Away From Alcohol
Like tobacco, alcohol can weaken the immune system, too. Frequent consumption, especially in large amounts, can also cause insomnia and other sleep problems. As mentioned above, you need optimal sleep since this is when your body does most of its healing.
So, as much as possible, avoid drinking alcoholic beverages until after your treated root canal has completely healed. After you’ve recovered, you can have some in moderation (no more than one standard drink per day for women and no more than two for men).
Practice Better Oral Hygiene Habits
Don’t forget to implement optimal oral hygiene habits, such as brushing and flossing at least twice daily. However, please be more careful when cleaning the treated area, especially if your dentist hasn’t completed the restoration yet. Use gentle circular strokes when brushing the treated tooth, and if you use a mouthwash, slowly swish it around your mouth.
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Prevent Delays in Root Canal Recovery Timeline
While the root canal recovery timeline varies from one person to another, most people feel better within one to two weeks. So, to help prevent yours from taking longer, follow all the tips we shared in this guide. You should also inform your dentist immediately if you still feel symptoms, such as pain and soreness, even after two weeks.
If you’re ready for more practical health guides like this, we’ve got you covered! Check out our latest informative blog posts for other wellness tips and tricks.
