A patient discussing root canal therapy treatment at Burlington Ontario dentist

7 Smart Tips to Help You Through Root Canal Recovery

If you are in need of a root canal, Dentistry at the Grove has your back. Not only will Dr. Niromi Fernando expertly complete your procedure, but our team will also make sure you stay comfortable during recovery. Beyond providing medicine to ease the pain, we will go above and beyond in providing the tips you need to get through the following days with ease. Here’s our seven most effective tips to help you breeze through recovery after root canal dentist in Burlington.

Wait to Eat Until You No Longer Feel Numb

When your mouth is still numb, it is impossible to tell the difference between your tasty snack and your tongue. Ouch! So, to avoid chomping down on the wrong thing, avoid eating anything until the numbness has fully resolved. You can sip on water or other cold beverages in the meantime but make sure to skip the straw.

Avoid Eating Crunchy Morsels

Once the numbness fades away, you have the green light to chow down on your favorite foods — as long as they are not crunchy, that is. Crunchy snacks are a bad idea in the days following root canal therapy in Burlington since they can aggravate the healing area. Instead, consider noshing on yogurt, berries, soup, and the like to let your mouth heal without issue.

Kick Back and Relax for a Few Days

Nothing will get your head pounding faster than trying to resume your normal activities before your mouth heals. You really just have to kick back and relax for a few days after root canal therapy to let the tissues settle down and start to heal. So, load up a long queue of your favorite movies or catch up on all the latest shows to keep busy while you rest up.

Use a Wedge to Elevate Your Head

While you rest, never lie flat as that can increase swelling and make recovery much more painful. Instead, put a wedge under your head to keep your mouth above your heart. Use the wedge while you sleep as well to wake up feeling rested and keep discomfort to a minimum.

Mix Up Warm Salt Water to Gargle

If your mouth is feeling a bit raw, then give a warm salt water rinse a try. You can make your own rinse by adding ½ teaspoon of salt to a glass of warm water. Pour a bit in your mouth and gargle like crazy to soothe the achy areas and get a bit more relief.

Apply a Cold Compress to Ease Pain

Another way to keep pain at bay is by holding an ice pack or bag of peas against your cheek on the affected side. The ice will help reduce any swelling going on, which will serve to quickly reduce your pain levels. Make sure to wrap the cold compress in a towel before putting it to your cheek, then only hold it there for up to 20 minutes every couple hours.

Don’t Hesitate to Call Your Dentist After Root Canal Therapy in Burlington

Our last tip is to simply stay in contact with our team. We are here to support you. If you encounter any issues during recovery, or just have a few questions, do not hesitate to reach out to us at 289-427-8200. Our team at Dentistry at the Grove is always available to take your call and provide timely advice or even get you back in to see your dentist. You can trust that you are in good hands when you choose to have root canal therapy in Burlington performed at our clinic.

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