Try our tips to expedite your healing process after a root canal, and you should start feeling back to normal in a couple of days.

Congratulations, you’ve completed your root canal procedure! Root canals have a success rate of more than 90 percent, so your restored tooth will function as your natural tooth for many years. Still, a root canal is a major dental procedure, and there will be a recovery period. 

Fortunately, the standard healing time after a root canal procedure doesn’t take very long. With proper care, you’ll fully recover from your root canal in less than a week. But you can speed up your healing and get your oral health back on track much sooner when you follow some after-care do’s and don’ts.

Why you would need a root canal

About 25 million root canals are performed safely each year by either a dentist or an endodontist who specializes in root canals. Root canals remove the bacterial infection in the pulp, which is the innermost part of the tooth. When bacteria invades the pulp, it causes intense pain, sensitivity, and swelling along the gum line. The only way to eliminate the infection and preserve your tooth is through a root canal.

While many people mistakenly believe a root canal is painful, it is actually painless, thanks to anesthesia. You’ll receive either local anesthesia, an oral sedative, or IV sedation. The entire procedure takes 30 to 60 minutes in one office visit, depending on how severe the infection is and the number of canals that need to be cleaned. If you received local anesthesia, you can drive yourself home. But if IV sedation is administered, you must have someone drive you home. 

The treated tooth is typically covered with a temporary crown after the procedure. If you don’t receive a same-day crown, you’ll wait about two weeks for your permanent crown. 

A root canal is considered a better alternative to an extraction because it saves most of your natural tooth. With an extraction, you’ll need either an implant or a bridge, which are more complex and expensive.

How to heal faster after your root canal

You can expect your mouth to feel slightly numb from the anesthesia. This sensation is normal and temporary. Once the anesthesia wears off, your mouth will feel somewhat sore. To manage any minor discomfort and heal sooner, follow these tips:

• Do take over-the-counter pain medications to ease discomfort.
• Do eat soft foods such as smoothies, yogurt, and pasta to give your mouth time to heal.
• Do brush and floss your teeth, but be careful around the root canal site.
• Do rinse with warm water and salt to soothe irritated gums. 
• Do take any prescribed medications, such as antibiotics, as directed.
• Do raise your head on a pillow at night to reduce swelling and pain.
• Do apply an ice pack to bring down any swelling.

• Don’t exercise vigorously for a few days. For example, when you jog, you bob your head, which rushes blood to the area and makes it more painful. 
• Don’t eat hard, sticky, or crunchy foods that could dislodge the temporary crown.
• Don’t chew on the treated tooth.
• Don’t use tobacco or drink alcohol. Both can hinder the healing process.

Call your dentist if you experience severe pain, swelling, or a fever long after the root canal. You may need retreatment. But the chances of that are slim if you take good care of the root canal site.

Your root canal experts in Wyoming

Schedule an appointment at Espire’s Casper, Wyoming, location today! Our team of dentists has been performing successful root canals for years, and we’re confident that we can make your procedure as stress-free as possible. Don’t live near our Casper, Wyoming, office? Find one of our other locations near you.

Casper, Wyoming
1530 Centennial Ct. 
Suite A 
Casper, WY 82609