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Root canal therapy is a common procedure used to treat an infected and inflamed tooth. It is usually very successful, eliminating unpleasant tooth pain and allowing the tooth to be restored to full function. A root-treated tooth can often last for years or a lifetime.
What Happens during Root Canal Therapy
The process involves removing the innermost parts of the tooth called the dental pulp. This contains the tooth nerve, blood vessels, and connective tissues, and these tissues extend into the tooth roots, the root canals.
Treatment is carried out using local anesthetic to ensure you feel comfortable. If you feel more anxious, you can always discuss using sedation dentistry with your dentist.
Below is a brief outline of what to expect if you need root canal treatment.
- To remove these tissues, your dentist will make an opening in the crown of the tooth so they can see the dental pulp. They use specialized tools to remove the pulp tissue. Specially shaped files are used to clean out the root canals. Some root canals are trickier to clean than others, particularly in back teeth where there are multiple canals to clean out and which can be quite curved.
- After removing all the infected tissue, your dentist will irrigate and disinfect the tooth to ensure it is thoroughly cleaned. Sometimes when the infection is severe, they can insert antibiotics into the empty pulp chamber, or you may be prescribed a course to take orally.
- A temporary filling is placed into the tooth until your dentist is sure the infection has been eliminated. Because root canal therapy is often performed on a severely decayed or damaged tooth, you will likely need a temporary crown fitted. This will be replaced with a permanent crown later, once your tooth has recovered.
It is a technique-sensitive procedure, often carried out under high magnification so the dentist can be sure that infected and inflamed tissues are removed thoroughly. Although treatment shouldn’t feel any worse than having a filling, it does take longer to complete.
Once the local anesthetic wears off, the tooth may well feel a bit tender, so it’s important to note what to eat and what to avoid.
How Soon to Begin Eating after Root Canal Therapy
During a root canal treatment, your mouth is thoroughly numbed to ensure you feel no discomfort. It’s important to wait until this numbness has completely worn off, which can take several hours.
If you try eating while your mouth is still numb, there is a big risk that you could burn yourself on foods that are too hot, or that you will bite the inside of your cheeks, your tongue, or your lips since you will not be able to register these sensations properly.
Choosing the Right Foods to Eat after Root Canal Therapy
Your dentist will likely give you a list of foods that are safe to eat after root canal therapy well before your appointment so that you can stock up before your treatment. Generally, these will include soft foods, so little or no chewing is required. Much of this information is simply down to common sense. Cooler foods can be very nice to eat if your mouth feels a bit sore.
Savory foods can include scrambled eggs, pasta like mac & cheese, well-cooked vegetables and mashed potato, soft bread, soup, soft cheeses like cottage cheese and rice. If you fancy something sweet, think about having yogurt, a soft pudding, smooth peanut butter or applesauce, as well as ice cream, sorbet or frozen yogurt.
Foods Best Avoided after Root Canal Therapy
Certain foods are best avoided after you have a root canal treatment until you are sure the tooth has had a chance to settle down and heal. These include foods that are harder to chew, such as nuts and seeds, especially as these can become stuck around the surgery site and be difficult to remove.
For the same reason, it’s better to avoid anything very sticky like caramels and taffy. Sticky foods can also dislodge a temporary filling or temporary crown that will be protecting the tooth.
Try to stick to eating and drinking foods that are not too hot or cold. This is because anything very hard or very cold could cause tooth sensitivity, at least until your permanent crown is fitted.
As your mouth gradually heals, you can begin introducing harder foods back into your diet. However, it can be better to avoid anything very crunchy, hard, or sticky until you complete your root canal treatment and your tooth is fully healed and protected with a dental crown.
Other Precautions to Take after Root Canal Therapy
During your recovery, it’s important to maintain good oral hygiene. You can brush and floss the rest of your teeth normally, and your dentist can advise you on how to clean the root-treated tooth carefully.
They may advise using an antimicrobial mouthwash, or a warm saltwater rinse that helps reduce inflammation. If you have been prescribed antibiotics, you must take them as directed, completing the entire course. Otherwise, there is a risk that the infection could recur.
Signs That You Need to See Your Dentist
Root canal treatment is a routine procedure, so it is extremely unlikely that anything will go wrong. The most you are likely to experience is some minor discomfort or tenderness. However, with any procedure, there is always a small chance that something can go wrong.
Signs that you should contact your dentist include:
- Pain that increases instead of diminishing.
- A feeling of pressure in the tooth.
- Swollen gum or facial swelling near the tooth.
- A fever.
- Signs of an allergic reaction such as itching or noticing that you have a rash.
- Feeling as if your bite isn’t quite right, so eating is uncomfortable.
If you dislodge or break a temporary crown or notice that your temporary filling has come out, you must get in touch with your dentist urgently. Without the filling or crown to protect the tooth, there is a risk that it will become infected. At the very least, it will feel very sensitive and uncomfortable, especially during mealtimes.
Recovering from a root canal is mostly about giving your body time to heal and being gentle with your bite. By sticking to soft, soothing foods and following proper post-care steps, you will be back to enjoying your favorite meals before you know it.
If you ever feel unsure about your symptoms, have questions about your temporary crown, or simply need personal guidance during your recovery, the team at VITAdent is always here to help. Reach out to us anytime to ensure your recovery is smooth, safe, and completely stress-free.