Dental care makes a world of difference not only in how your teeth look but your general health, too. If your dentist discovers a problem, it’s important to take care of it as soon as possible.

If you’ve had a tooth with a deep cavity and it’s no longer treatable, it’s likely your dentist suggested a root canal. You’re ready for the procedure but how long will it take before you feel like yourself again?

Discover everything you need to know about expediting root canal recovery. You’ll learn how you can get back to your self after a brief relaxation period.

1. Manage How You Treat Your Mouth

Immediately after you’ve had surgery, pay close attention to your mouth and how it feels. While it’s obvious there’s some pain and swelling, you can reduce this with careful planning.

Wait until you’re no longer numb before attempting to eat anything. If you do, you risk biting your tongue or hurting yourself.

Since swelling is common after a root canal, use an ice pack to reduce it. When sleeping, keep your head elevated with pillows so you can avoid irritation.

Plan meals carefully for the first few days. Consider things that make it easier to get proper nutrition without a lot of chewing.

Soups, smoothies and soft food like mashed potatoes are good bets when recovering from a root canal. You’ll have the chance to satisfy your hunger without worrying about hurting your fixed tooth.

If you’re a smoker or you vape, try to avoid smoking for the next few days. The less interference your mouth has with foreign chemicals and products, the quicker it can heal.

2. Avoid Exercise for a Few Days

Exercise is something that should be part of everyone’s routine. If you’ve just had surgery, even if it’s mouth surgery, you need to be careful.

Take time off for the first few days. Ask your dentist how long they think you’d benefit from staying off exercising.

Exercising too soon can cause you to bleed again and make you feel achy. Remember during your recovery period, you want to take it as easy as possible so you’re not dealing with a problem caused or worsened by exercise.

When you’re ready to get back on your feet, look for exercises that are formulated for people recovering from surgery. These allow you to get the same benefits without putting unnecessary strain on your body.

Walking is the ultimate recovery exercise for beginners that allows you to lose weight in a non-stressful way. Take everything at a slow and relaxed pace and you’ll feel like your old self again soon enough.

3. For Optimal Root Canal Recovery, Get the Rest You Need

Getting rest is important while you’re recovering. Make an effort to get as much sleep as possible so you’ll experience a quick recovery and go back to feeling like yourself again.

If you can manage a day or two off work after your root canal treatment, you’ll likely experience a quicker recovery time and feel better than if you tried to handle life as normal. Remember that oral surgery can make you sore and uncomfortable, leaving you tired.

Sleeping and staying off your feet can help you speed up the recovery process and feel better. If you’re on medication that’s specifically for pain relief, it’s better to stay at home and avoid any accidents that could occur.

Taking a few days out to fully rest and let your body heal is the ultimate gift you can give your body during this time.

4. Pay Attention to How You Feel

It’s obvious that you won’t feel like yourself when dealing with pain after a root canal. Regardless, take notice of how you’re feeling when you first get home and in the time afterward.

Swelling, pain and other factors begin to subside after a day or two if you’re letting yourself heal properly. At the same time, consider what’s going on if you’re still in a lot of pain.

It’s possible there’s an infection going on or there are other problems related to your root canal.

It’s important to get in touch with your dentist if you notice:

• Swelling that lasts longer than a day
• Rashes and hives
• Pain medication isn’t effective

If you notice pain after hours or need help but can’t get to your normal dentist, get to an emergency dentist right away. Pain after a root canal is nothing to play around with and you deserve to live as pain-free as possible.

5. Notice if Your Crown Gives You Problems

After the root canal is complete, most people have a crown put on. Often the crown is temporary, while a permanent one gets created.

Because this crown isn’t a permanent one and sculpted just for your mouth, make sure you’re watching how it feels. See if you notice pain or irritation when you eat or bite down.

Although you’ll go back for your permanent crown soon enough, tell your dentist right away if the crown causes you any pain or swelling. Monitor your mouth the same way after you get your permanent crown.

Doing so ensures you don’t have any problems with the materials made for your crown and you can avoid possible infection. Your crown can help enhance your smile, but you need to monitor and see if it’s working for you or causing more harm than help.

Learn More

If you need treatment for a root canal, know that it’s an investment for your body, and can help maintain your smile for many years to come. While some people feel scared about root canal recovery, many are fine with a little rest and relaxation for a few days and then return to normal.

If you need a dentist to help you maintain your beautiful smile, we’re here for you. Contact us and see how we can help you with all your dental needs.