Crucial dos and don’ts of Root Canal aftercare

If you treasure your natural teeth, you will do anything to ensure your teeth remain intact for the rest of your life. At Vivid Dental, we understand that you would like to maintain a full-toothed smile in your golden years and beyond. In light of this, we offer root canal therapy to salvage your teeth when other restorative treatments are not feasible.

What to expect from a root canal

Despite the intimidating popular opinion, root canals are pretty comfortable and straightforward. Technological advancements in modern dentistry have made root canal therapy no more painful than a tooth filling. After Dr. Monti Harpalani establishes that your tooth cavity is too large for a filling or dental crown, a root canal will be recommended instead of tooth extraction.

The procedure starts with numbing the area near the affected tooth, after which we make a small incision on the crown to access the tooth internals. Next, we remove the infected pulp and other tissues and clean the area to eliminate lurking bacteria. Finally, we seal your tooth with gutta-percha and install a crown to restore strength.

Taking care of your tooth after a root canal

While the root canal process is virtually painless, you may experience mild pain and swelling after leaving the dental office. Here are some tips to reduce discomfort and hasten recovery.

• Plan your meals: Unless your mouth is no longer numb, don’t eat immediately after a root canal as you run the risk of biting your tongue. Additionally, consider soft foods like smoothies, broths, and soups for the first few days to avoid hurting your tooth.
• Take medications as prescribed: After the anesthesia wears off, you might experience some pain, but your dentist will prescribe pain-relieving medications to reduce discomfort. Also, continue taking the prescribed antibiotics until the dose is complete.
• Rinse your mouth with warm salt water: To avoid infections at the surgery site, gargle your mouth with warm salt water to keep infections at bay.
• Rest: After surgery, rest is essential for a swift recovery. Take two or three days off from work to allow healing to take place.
• Pay attention to how you feel: If your pain and swelling don’t subside after two days, it’s wise to inform your dentist. Also, notify your dentist immediately if you experience fever and excessive bleeding.

Root canal dentist near me in Houston, TX

With root canal therapy, teeth extraction is not always the last resort. A root canal saves your teeth, resolves pain, and deters infection from spreading to other teeth. Ready to salvage your tooth with a root canal? Please dial 281-809-4902 to book an appointment with Vivid Dental in Houston, TX.