If you recently underwent a root canal, you may feel some lingering tenderness in your teeth and gums. Fortunately, these sensations should pass quickly. This blog provides suggestions for foods you can comfortably eat in the first day or two after having a root canal.
Choosing What to Eat After a Root Canal
A root canal treats pain and infection inside a tooth's pulp. Although it removes the pulp and prevents nearly all future infections, the tooth may still be tender as it heals. The following foods can help your tooth heal:
- Pudding
- Yogurt
- Smoothies
- Ice Cream
- Pasta Without Chewy Pieces
- Cream Soups
- Cooked Fruits
- Electrolyte Drinks
- Cool Beverages (avoiding excessively hot or cold drinks)
Recovering from a root canal is typically much faster and easier than dental surgeries like wisdom teeth removal, so it should take only one or two days to return to a regular diet. You may want to be cautious with tough, chewy, or crunchy foods like steak and popcorn while your gums feel tender.
How Root Canals Work
A root canal is a pain-relieving procedure that clears infections inside the tooth and its roots. Root canals may become necessary if the tooth is broken or decayed. Openings that pass through the dentin and into the tooth's pulp may lead to infection.
The first step is drilling a small opening in the tooth's crown. The dentist uses this opening to reach inside with tiny tools and remove all traces of pulp from the tooth's crown and root system.
After cleaning and disinfecting the tooth, the dentist refills it with gutta-percha, a biocompatible plastic that seals out further contamination. You will soon return for a permanent filling or crown.
The root canal procedure may seem intimidating, but the truth is that it is no more trouble than getting a large filling. Techniques have significantly advanced over the past few decades, and most patients report that root canals are comfortable and pain-free.
How to Know if You May Need a Root Canal
- Severe tooth pain, especially when chewing or biting
- Significant tooth pain that goes away for a time and then returns worse than ever before
- Discolored (gray or black) tooth
- Pus along the gum line
- Swellings along the gumline that resemble pimples (dental abscess)
Frequently Asked Questions About Root Canals
Why is a root canal necessary?
If you let a tooth needing a root canal go without treatment, the infection will spread. You may experience infections in other teeth, your gums, or other parts of your body. The chance that you can replace the tooth with a crown diminishes, and you may have to undergo a tooth extraction.
Does insurance cover root canals?
Yes, in most cases, your dental insurance will cover a significant portion of your root canal costs.
Call Dentistry of Mendham
If you recently had a root canal, it's essential to know that your discomfort should last no more than a few days to a week. If you continue feeling unwell, please call your dentist. If you want to make an appointment in our Mendham, NJ, office, please call 973-543-5700.