Root Canal (RCT) Recovery: Essential Tips for Healing and Aftercare

A root canal treatment is dreaded by almost everyone, because of the anxieties surrounding it, and the apprehension about the pain and discomfort.

However, it is a very essential step in oral health care, because it allows the endodontist to remove the infected portion of the tooth pulp, while rescuing the actual tooth from further damage and a possible extraction.

The procedure for root canal treatment (RCT) is usually done in 2 to 3 sessions, spread over one to two weeks. Since it is done under the influence of an anaesthetic, the pain is not felt till it wears off, and can be managed with prescribed painkillers or medication afterwards. 

Root canal treatment recovery time is different for different people, due to one's age and oral health condition. However, some simple steps can make the journey to healing simpler and more effective.

Here are a few ways to take care of yourself after a Root Canal Treatment (RCT):

1. Eat a filling meal before the procedure

On the day of your treatments, have a wholesome and filling meal beforehand. This ensures that you're not too hungry immediately after, as you’ll need to wait a few hours until the numbness wears off before eating again.

2. Sufficient sleep

It is a well-known fact that sleep aids our bodies in healing. In the days following your root canal treatment, allow yourself ample rest and sleep. Taking it easy helps your body recover faster and also reduces irritation or discomfort during the initial phase.

3. Food for healing

Diet plays an essential role in improving after any illness or treatment procedure. In India we believe that food is medicine, and what we eat helps our overall well-being. Having soft, mashed foods without spice keeps the pressure on the jaw minimal and prevents any reaction to the masalas. Avoiding cigarettes, tobacco based products and alcohol also reduces the chances of a possible infection or inflammation.

4. Ice-Cream treats are good

Since ice-cream or sorbets are cold, they help to hold down the soreness and inflammation, and make you feel better. Have plain ice-cream, without nuts or chunks, to avoid disturbing the affected part of the tooth and jaw.

What to Avoid After a Root Canal Treatment (RCT):

• Drink from a straw
• Eat sticky foods like toffee or chewing gum
• Have very hot beverages
• Have crunchy or hard foods, fruits or nuts

Take it easy:

Even if you have a fitness regime, take time off and opt for short walks and pranayama instead. For at least a few days, do not engage in strenuous activities like lifting heavy objects, walking up too many stairs or picking something heavy with a jerk. All such actions can put pressure on the nerves and aggravate the pain. You can always use this time to catch up on your reading, conversations with friends or watchlist of movies.

Be mindful of how you feel:

Through recovery, always pay attention to how you're feeling. If there is any swelling, pain or stress around the jaw which persists, speak to your endodontist and have them take a look, at the earliest. Follow all the precautions you have been told to, and take only prescribed painkillers, gels or mouth rinse. 

Gargling with salt water or alum water also alleviates the pain and keeps infection at bay. 

(CAUTION: It is important to NOT self-medicate or take the same medicine that someone you know took for their RCT.)

To know more about post-root canal treatment self-care, call: 18001020288