What You Can Do When You Have Root Canal-Related Pain

Are you afraid of getting a root canal due to it sounding like a painful procedure? While the procedure is not designed to cause pain, there can be complications with any dental procedure that results in pain. It's important to know how to treat that pain so you can alleviate that discomfort. Here is what you need to do if you have pain after your root canal.

Take Prescribed Antibiotics

Root canals are necessary when teeth have infected nerves, and many patients end up suffering from abscesses that need to be treated. The abscess is what is causing the pain, and antibiotics can be used to treat it. If you've been prescribed an antibiotic by your dentist, it is in your best interest to take your medication according to the directions.

Antibiotics take a while to build up within your body and treat the infection. It's possible that the antibiotic doesn't feel like it is working during those first few days, or that you stop taking the antibiotic because the pain has gone away. You should be taking the medication as prescribed, because even ending an antibiotic early can lead to complications where the infection comes back.

Take Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

It's common for the gum tissue around the infected tooth to become inflamed, which leads to the need to have a root canal. It results in having tender tissue, which will feel painful after the root canal is finished.

The best way to deal with this pain is with over-the-counter drugs that are designed to treat inflammation. It will make the tissues feel less painful as they start to recover after the procedure.

Avoid Hard Foods

The tooth may be fixed thanks to the root canal, but don't assume you can go back to eating anything you want. It's possible that hard foods can irritate the tissue around your tooth, making the area feel painful. Consider switching to a diet over the first few days that has soft foods. Soups, yogurts, and smoothies can all be easier to eat, and reduce the chance of irritating the area.

While root canals are not designed to hurt, there is always the risk of a complication. Following these tips should help minimize complications and help the healing process begin. If you have any question about the pain you are experiencing after a root canal, reach out to your dentist for their professional help.