Important Facts to Know Root Canal After Care

Tooth loss is a very common dental issue across the world. Many people lose their natural teeth prematurely, more so due to poor oral hygiene and severe dental decay. While some level of tooth damage may be beyond repair, some cases of tooth infections are still salvageable.

Procedures like root canal therapy are used to treat damaged teeth, giving patients a second chance with their natural teeth.

What Is A Root Canal Procedure?

It is a dental treatment that involves treating the insides of a damaged tooth to save it. The procedure is performed on damaged teeth to ensure that patients can keep their natural teeth for longer than is the case with tooth extractions. Many of the patients that require this treatment suffer from significant tooth decay that has compromised the structure of their tooth inside out.

A root canal procedure involves getting rid of infection and bacteria in a tooth, right from the roots. All this is done without completely damaging the structure of a tooth. The process gets rid of the nerves, blood vessels, and other soft tissues that are damaged because of the infection. Once all of this is complete, a dentist then fills and seals the treated tooth, prevent re-infection.

How Long Does Recovery Take?

The recovery time after a root canal procedure is not as long as is the case with other dental surgeries. In a few days, your mouth should already be feeling better than on the initial day of the treatment. However, it also depends on how invasive the procedure was. Usually, some endodontic surgeries are more invasive than others.

While the typical procedure should involve drilling the tooth to remove the pulp thereof, in some instances, a dentist in 85258 will use a different technique. He/she may determine to temporarily extract the affected tooth, remove the pulp, and all infection inside. Afterward, the tooth is restored. For such surgeries, the recovery period may be a bit longer than that of other patients.

Caring for Your Mouth After Root Canal

No matter how long healing and recovery takes, it will be affected by how well you care for your mouth as you wait. Depending on your body’s immune system, healing will happen quicker than you expected or delay a while longer. Your dentist in Scottsdale, AZ will caution you on this possibility. For such reasons, here are some guidelines on how to care for your mouth as you heal:

1. Stick to soft foods until you are ready for other foods. Soon after your treatment, your mouth will still be numb from anesthesia. For the first few days, your mouth may also feel sore and slightly sensitive from the procedure. Try sticking to soft foods until you feel ready enough to eat other foods.
2. Keep up with proper oral hygiene – the problem that took you to a Scottsdale dentist may have everything to do with poor oral hygiene. In that case, to avoid a repeat of the problem, be intentional about proper oral health. While you are likely to experience some sensitivity in the first few days after your treatment, it does not last long. Be gentle when you brush, until the sensitivity wears down. After a while, you should be able to go back to your usual oral hygiene routine.
3. Don’t skip flossing – it’s the best way to ensure that no plaque is trapped between your teeth that may cause another infection thereof.
4. Watch what you eat – if you have needed a root canal treatment, then you understand that you have to make changes in your food choices. Sugary foods will not do anything good for your oral health. Instead of risking another infection in your teeth or even your gums, cut down on the number of sugary foods you consume.
5. Keep up with routine dental checkups – dental visits are not a waste of your time. They allow a dentist to check the state of your oral health and offer any treatment if needed. After a root canal, you need to go back for dental cleanings that will help maintain excellent oral health and preserve your newly treated tooth.