Dental care is easy to overlook, but once you experience tooth pains that can disrupt your daily life, then its urgency and importance resurface in the forefront of most people’s priorities. Some dental treatments are relatively easy to get over with, but more serious procedures like a root canal can often be stressful for many.
It’s one of the most dreaded yet necessary treatments that prevent your decayed tooth from causing further trouble in your mouth, and while the experience itself shouldn’t be a painful one, most would agree that recovering from this procedure can be daunting.
Instead of escaping the inevitable and making matters worse for your oral health, it’s better to know what you can do to make your root canal aftercare a more comfortable ordeal so you can brace the procedure with no fear:
Tip #1: Keep Your Head Up High - Literally!
After the root canal procedure, it’s important to keep your head elevated for a few hours to keep the blood from rushing to your face. While it’s tempting to plop down on the bed as soon as you get home, doing so can increase your discomfort and promote a throbbing kind of pain.
Since the irritation can last between two to three days, it’s best to sleep with additional pillows to keep your head elevated until the lingering pain subsides.
Tip #2: Eat Ice Cream and Have a Cold Compress Within Reach
The good news is that after a root canal procedure, children or adults alike can treat themselves to ice cream! While it’s a great way to boost your happiness after undergoing a stressful treatment, the cold can also do wonders for reducing your inflammation.
Having a cold compress ready and using it for 10 to 15 minutes should also help keep the swelling at bay for the next coming days, allowing you to reduce the pain, mitigate possible infections, and fast-track your recovery.
Tip #3: Avoid Foods and Beverages that Causes Inflammation
Since the purpose of eating ice cream and using cold compress is to minimize inflammation, it’s only logical to avoid foods and drinks that can inflame your gums. Steer clear from coffee, tea, alcohol, or hard foods that can promote swelling since they can only delay your recovery, which means you’ll need to stick to cold drinks like smoothies and soft foods until your mouth fully heals.
The Bottom Line: Ways to Make Your Root Canal Aftercare a More Smooth-Sailing Experience
Getting a root canal treatment is critical for maintaining your oral health, so it’s important to dispel any trepidation surrounding it by arming yourself with the right information. Preparing for your recovery is just another way to keep you relaxed and allow you to return to normal as painlessly as possible.
Why Choose Dental House MI to Care for Your Oral Health?
Are you looking to bring back the confidence behind your smile? Our qualified and reliable local dentists in Waterford, MI, USA can help improve your dental health with our multifaceted services. Get in touch with us today for a free consultation!