root canal recovery
Are you one of the 15 million people planning to get a root canal this year? Any dentist visit can be scary, but even more so when you’re a mom who needs to always be at the top of her game.
7 Need-to-Know Tips on Root Canal Recovery and Pain Management
That’s why it’s essential to understand the best way to tackle root canal recovery so that you can get back into full-form as soon as possible. Your kids aren’t going to understand that you’re in pain, so it’s good to have a plan for when things get tough.
Listed down below are the best root canal recovery tips that’ll help you every step of the way!
1. Avoid Eating After the Procedure
After the root canal, you’ll deal with a lot of numbness from the procedure. You might not feel much pain until after the numbing agent disappears, and this is why it’s essential not to eat anything until the pain comes back.
If you feel numb while eating, it’s easy to put too much pressure on the wrong area. You could cause more damage without even realizing it.
No one wants to be in pain, but in this case, the pain is a good thing.
2. Monitor Your Pain Medication
Make sure to check with your dentist about root canal pain and the types of pain medication most effective against it. In general, you’ll want to look for pain medication that fights against inflammation and fevers. These help the most to stop swelling.
It’s easy to take extra pain meds when the pain gets worse, so it’s a good idea to write down when you last took them.
This stops you from making yourself ill by taking too much at one time. If you ever have questions about how to stop the pain, always check in with your dentist. Most of the pain should subside within the first two or three days, so hang in there!
3. Apply Ice
One of the worst parts of any recovery of a root canal is swelling. It makes the pain even worse and makes it difficult to do any of those typical mom jobs we have to accomplish every day. It’s even difficult to eat when the swelling is bad.
To reduce the swelling, apply a cold compress to the area for about twenty minutes at a time. The cold helps the inflammation shrink and reduce, which allows you to find relief. Doing this a couple of times throughout the day makes a big difference in the swelling you’ll experience.
Even if it feels nice against your swollen cheek, never use ice for too long at one time, and always cover it with a towel to avoid harming your skin.
4. No Exercise for a Few Days
As the pain starts to subside, we might think that we’re ready to jump back into our daily routine. Taking care of our bodies is an essential task for every mother, but it’s best to avoid exercise for at least a week while you recover after root canal procedures.
It’s not only exercise that you want to skip. It’s any strenuous activity that causes your blood to pump a lot faster, such as fast walks, hikes, swimming, or carrying something heavy.
When your heart starts beating faster, it sends more blood to any wounds and could cause your root canal to start bleeding again. It also tends to make swelling worse.
Don’t forget to ask your dentist how long you need to wait before beginning your exercise regimen again.
5. Gargle Salted Water
Infections are always a scary word. No one wants the time of their recovery to extend because of infection, so it’s essential to stop this from happening.
Gargling salt water every couple of hours keeps your mouth and the wound area clean from harmful bacteria. It also soothes the area, so it’s a win-win situation.
You’ll want to keep brushing your teeth while you recover but always be extra careful of the root canal area. Keep the bristles away until everything has healed!
6. Eat Softer Foods
It might be challenging to give up your favorite rye crackers, but it’s vital to stay away from hard foods while you heal. Any excess pressure put on the wound is a danger to your recovery. It’s more likely that you’ll end up injuring yourself in the process.
Stick to softer foods but avoid any foods that require the use of a straw. Sucking motions upset the area and could lift away any stitches or clots that form. Try chewing on the opposite side of your mouth to keep everything safe as you continue to heal.
Also, make sure to avoid foods that are hot as this might exacerbate any swelling!
7. Keep Tabs on Your Root Canal Recovery
Overall, root canal recovery time isn’t so bad. After a few days, you shouldn’t feel much discomfort. Sensitivity is normal until everything heals, but you should be able to get back into the swing of things in no time at all.
As with most procedures, you want to pay attention to what your body tells you.
When you feel tired, make sure you get some rest. When you eat something that causes pain, avoid eating that food until after the healing process.
If the pain is still extreme after a few days or the swelling never lets up, contact your dentist. Never ignore the signals your body gives you, and you’ll be okay!
Get Lots of Rest for Speedier Healing
It’s always difficult for moms to find time to rest, but it’s crucial for your root canal recovery. Without proper rest, your body doesn’t have a chance to heal, and it’ll take you even longer to get back on your feet.
Ask for help from friends or other family members to give yourself a break for a few hours. Even a tiny rest is better than nothing at all!
For more tips and tricks on how to tackle the struggles of being a great mom, check out the rest of the blog!
