Root canal therapy is one of the most popular dental care solutions under the umbrella of restorative oral care. More than 15 million Americans undergo this surgery every year. This painless routine dental procedure rescues your tooth from infection or decay.
However, you can only expect to experience the full-blown amazing outcome of this therapy when you invest time to follow a foolproof root canal aftercare routine. The right care tips have a lot to do with how quickly you’ll recover.
Healing after a root canal can be easy when you stay true to your dentist’s recommendations. The best aftercare tips a licensed dentist in Alexandria suggests are listed below:
Tip 1: Stick to Pain Management Instructions
No wonder patients experience soreness or tenderness post-root canal surgery. And that’s where this tip comes into play. While experiencing minimal pressure or soreness around the treated tooth is normal, it usually disappears in a couple of days. You just need to routinely take over-the-counter pain relief medicines as advised by your dentist. Ibuprofen or acetaminophen is the best to relieve pain and inflammation.
Apart from this, you should also avoid chewing on the treated side until your temporary crown or restoration is placed. The pressure that chewing puts on the surgical site can irritate the area and slow down healing.
Tip 2: Keep the Area Clean and Protected
Dentists always ask patients to undergo root canal therapy to follow a strict oral hygiene maintenance routine. Keeping the area clean without disturbing the healing site can take your healing journey pedal-to-the-floor level.
- Simply follow a gentle brushing routine
- Floss as usual
- Say ‘no’ to sticky or hard foods
In other words, don’t do anything that decelerates your healing journey. Your dentist may recommend that you wash your mouth with saltwater to reduce bacteria and soothe the tissue. This small step can go a long way in preventing infection.
Tip 3: Don’t Skip Follow-Up Appointments
You shouldn’t expect your root canal treatment to be over in one visit. You might need to return to your dentist for a permanent crown or restoration after the surgery. Skipping this final step increases the risk of reinfection or fracture.
At your follow-up:
- Your tooth will be examined to ensure it’s healing properly.
- Any symptom of infection can be evaluated and treated early on.
- You’ll have a permanent crown to protect the tooth from any further harm.
Even if you don’t notice anything unusual, these visits aren’t optional—they’re part of the entire treatment process.
A successful root canal is a lifesaver for your tooth, but it’s what you do after the treatment that allows the long-term success. Taking care of easy things like managing pain, following all the good oral care practices for oral hygiene, and attending follow-up visits helps you heal quicker and protect your smile. A well-cared-for tooth can stay healthy for years to come.
