Root canal therapy in NE Calgary painlessly solves serious tooth infections and saves teeth from being extracted except as a last resort. Root canal therapy is a common and nearly always complication-free procedure. Our dentist in NE Calgary will provide detailed instructions about recovering quickly and preventing reinfection or any surprises. You should follow those instructions carefully, but here are some tips for ensuring your fastest and fullest recovery.
Wait Until The Numbness Has Passed Before Eating
Before your root canal procedure, our dentist will numb your teeth and gums to ensure you don’t experience pain during root canal therapy in NE Calgary. That numbing sensation will dissipate gradually, not immediately. While you’re still numb, don’t eat. You won’t be able to tell the difference between the food you’re trying to chew and your tongue, cheeks, and lips. Once full sensation has returned, you can eat again without the risk of injuring yourself.
Avoid Crunchy Foods For a While
Once full sensation has returned after your root canal at our dentist near you, eating again as directed by our dentist will be safe, but avoid crunchy foods. Foods like chips and crackers are bad options while recovering because they might aggravate the parts of the mouth that were treated during the root canal therapy near you. Instead of crunchy foods, eat things like smoothies, soup, and yogurt during your recovery period. All those soft foods may be dull, but they’ll help you recover faster.
Avoid Exertion And Effort
Root canal procedures are painless, common, and almost always performed without complications. Common and straightforward as they are, though, root canal surgeries are a medical procedure that places stress and strain on your body. You should not exert yourself physically or return to daily physical activity until your body, jaw, and mouth recover. The best idea is to take a few days off from work and caregiving responsibilities to rest and relax while swelling dissipates, inflammation eases, and healing occurs.
Elevate Your Head
Pain and discomfort in your mouth and jaw after the numbing wears off while you recover are completely normal. One of the easiest ways to minimize that discomfort is to keep your head elevated whenever you lie down or sleep. Doing so can be as simple as using an extra pillow for a while. Elevating your head will help keep blood from flowing into your mouth’s inflamed and swollen areas.
Rinse With Salt Water
Salt is a natural antiseptic. You can ease the natural and normal irritation you may feel after root canal therapy in NE Calgary — and help prevent any infection — by rinsing your mouth with warm salted water. Just take a glass of warm, but not hot, water and add half a teaspoon of regular table salt. Stir the mixture to ensure the salt is dissolved, rinse your mouth thoroughly but gently with the solution, and spit the water out of your mouth. Don’t swallow the salt water.