Eva WatsonIf you’ve recently undergone a root canal treatment, you might wonder what’s next for you!
While most individuals think the aftercare is intense, it’s effortless. The steps that follow are similar to your everyday oral care. However, while at it, you must ensure to follow a few basics to minimize discomfort, reduce oral infection, and follow guidelines to avoid
Keeping the same in mind, this blog takes a closer look at the best practices for oral hygiene via topics like:
- What to Expect Immediately After A Root Canal?
- Debunking Common Myths Associated With Root Canal
- Post-Care Tips to Fix Your Smile
- Tips for Long-Term Maintenance of Your Root Canal
- Possible Root Canal Complications To Watch For
Continue reading as we learn more about root canal treatment in the following sections of the blog.
What to Expect Immediately After A Root Canal?
A root canal treatment is the best option to relieve individuals of excruciating pain. It relieves discomfort and leaves behind a certain in the early stages of the treatment. Besides, you may also experience some discomfort in the jaw after following treatment for a root canal in Grants. This is primarily due to the prolonged mouth opening.
Typically, you can opt for over-the-counter drugs to effectively cure the pain following a root canal procedure. In other cases, your dentist in Grants may also prescribe a prescription for your unique oral condition.
Additionally, suppose you’re waiting to undergo another surgery following the canal treatment, like a crown or filling. In that case, you might avoid hard food items while treating the tooth.
Debunking Common Myths Associated With Root Canal
Before understanding different aspects of post-root canal dental care, it’s essential to address some common myths associated with the procedure, namely:
Myth 1: Brushing teeth after a root canal might loosen the filling or crown.
Reality: While staying cautious after any treatment is crucial, brushing your teeth after a root canal is equally essential. It is safe and encourages adequate oral hygiene.
Myth 2: You won’t feel discomfort if you don’t brush after a root canal treatment.
Reality: Proper oral hygiene includes brushing your teeth. Brushing twice daily prevents complications and promotes healthy healing following a root canal treatment. On the contrary, avoiding brushing can lead to gum disease, plaque buildup, and further dental problems.
Myth 3: Brushing teeth can result in pain or bleeding following a root canal.
Reality: When cleaning teeth after a root canal, mild soreness or bleeding is normal and usually fades within a few days. Brushing softly via a soft-bristled toothbrush helps reduce inflammation.
Post-Care Tips to Fix Your Smile
Avoid Putting Pressure on the Treated Tooth
You must avoid putting pressure on your treated tooth during the healing process. Not putting much pressure on your tooth prevents you from putting immense pressure on your cavity.
Besides, you must avoid chewing from the affected side of your mouth and switch to softer, easily digestible meals. Minimizing pressure on the tooth might minimize harm to the temporary filling or restoration.
Be Mindful of Temperature Sensitivity
Once you undergo root canal treatment, you may become more sensitive to hot and cold conditions. You must also avoid consuming beverages or food items that are very hot or cold. Switch to room-temperature or lukewarm products instead. As the treated tooth recovers, you will eventually experience reduced sensitivity.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene Practices
While being careful with the treated area is crucial, you must opt for adequate oral hygiene to maintain general dental health. Brush your teeth twice daily with a soft-bristled toothbrush, avoiding aggressive cleaning around the treated tooth. What’s more? You should also floss daily to eliminate food particles and plaque buildup, lowering the risk of illness.
Use Over-the-counter Pain Relief
Over-the-counter pain medicines like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help decrease pain and inflammation following a root canal operation. However, you must always follow the dosing directions on the medicine label and contact your dentist for further questions associated with the medication.
Tips for Long-Term Maintenance of Your Root Canal
Maintaining good oral health following a root canal operation is critical to ensuring a speedy recovery and avoiding further dental problems in the future.
Here are some principles and suggestions you can opt for long-term maintenance:
- Attend Regular Dental Check-Ups:
In addition to attending follow-up appointments immediately after your root canal, it’s crucial to schedule regular dental check-ups every six months. These routine visits allow your dentist to monitor the health of your teeth and gums. Also, it helps identify potential issues early on and provides preventive care to keep your smile in top condition.
- Follow Through with Complete Restoration:
Following the first root canal treatment, your dentist may propose a permanent crown or filling to restore the treated tooth’s strength and functioning. This advice must be implemented as soon as possible. A permanent repair preserves the tooth from additional deterioration and provides a more visually acceptable finish.
- Avoid Habits That Can Compromise Dental Health:
Certain activities, like biting on hard food items or smoking, might raise the risk of dental issues, including damage to the treated tooth. Quitting smoking and avoiding these behaviors will help your dental work last longer and reduce the need to undergo further treatment in the future.
Possible Root Canal Complications To Watch For
Root canals have a high success rate, nearly 95%. However, there are a few potential issues to be aware of.
If your tooth has more roots than the dentist expected, it may go untreated. This would result in an infection in your tooth and cause discomfort. Talk to your dentist if you continue to have the same symptoms after a root canal.
In certain situations, the sealant applied in a root canal might break down over time, enabling germs to enter the tooth. Regular dental exams are the most effective strategy to avoid this particular issue.
In rare cases, a break in the tooth’s root goes undetected. If you have odd symptoms, including dental soreness that persists beyond a few days, notify your dentist.
Most root canals are routine; most patients can resume regular activities the following day.
Takeaway
- A root canal treatment is the best option to relieve individuals of excruciating pain.
- Root canals have a high success rate, nearly 95%. However, there are a few potential issues to be aware of.
- Maintaining good oral health following a root canal operation is critical to ensuring a speedy recovery and avoiding further dental problems in the future.
- Don’t let the complications of the procedure confuse you! Visit our experts at the Sundance Dental Grants today!
