Are Root Canals Painful?

When going in for a root canal, you should be aware that you are going to experience some pain for a few days afterward. This should be temporary, but you will want to talk to your dentist if the pain persists for longer than that.

As long as you practice good oral hygiene and clean your teeth often, the pain should go away. Keep reading if you want to learn more about why root canals cause pain and how you can remedy it.

What is a Normal Amount of Pain?

The root of your tooth is a sensitive place, so there is going to be some pain after the procedure. However, what is normal, and what is not?

You will probably feel extra sensitive after the root canal. This is caused by a variety of factors including:

The temporary filling is jagged and needs to be smoothed
The gums are inflamed or swollen
The tissue in your gums was irritated

All of these will heal or become less noticeable in about three days after you complete the procedure. If the amount of pain you are experiencing is worsening or becomes intense, and does not do away when taking the medicine prescribed to you, then you should contact your dentist.

They will give you a follow-up check-up and see if there are any underlying causes of the pain. When it comes to teeth, you will want to contact your care providers sooner rather than later- they can prevent more oral issues from popping up.

Once your root canal has been completed, your dentist will probably set a crown on it. Crowns can be made of different materials that are designed to protect the sensitive areas of your exposed tooth. This could be gold, porcelain, or metal.

In some cases, you might experience pain from the crown. This will go away after a few days.

Oral Care Post Root Canal

After your root canal, your mouth is going to need some time to heal. You will want to be sure that you are following all of the dentist’s post-care instructions. Doing so will help you to heal faster and prevent infections.

Plus, you will want to be sure that you are only eating soft food. Harder foods can damage your healing tooth- meaning that you will need to come back into the office and have it fixed again. If you are unsure about what to eat, contact your dentist. They will give you a list of what to avoid until your tooth is completely healed.

Brush your teeth every day, while being extra careful with the healing one. This ensures that you do not experience any infections. You will also want to floss daily and avoid biting or chewing with the healing tooth. Your dentist will tell you when it is fine to eat with it again.

Remember, root canals are meant to relieve pain due to tooth decay. If pain persists, then you might need your dentist to reclean your canals- do not be afraid to contact them for help.

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Do You Have Pain Right Now?

If you need immediate relief, be sure that you are taking the pain medicine that was prescribed to you correctly. Contact your dentist if you think the dosage is not working well for you. You can also try an over-the-counter pain killer if one was not prescribed to you.

Tooth pain can be extremely uncomfortable. You want to always practice a good oral hygiene routine to avoid getting an infection- this can cause a lot of pain if you get one. Contact us to schedule an appointment if the pain persists or you think you might have an infection.

When You Should Seek Help

If the pain or swelling continues after three or so days, then you will want to get a hold of your dentist. Long-term pain can be a sign that you need to have the healing tooth cleaned again. In some cases, the root canal will not be considered successful until you have at least two sessions with your dentist.

During the healing process, you should be taking pain relief medicines. If over-the-counter products are not helping you, your dentist might be able to get you a prescription for a stronger one.

If you have been taking the pain medicine and your mouth is still hurting, then you will want to contact your dentist. Persistent pain is not a good sign, as you may have an infection or require another treatment.

Conclusion

Root canals do cause pain, however, it should go away completely after just a few days. You should be able to manage it with medication in the meantime.

If you continue to experience intense pain, contact your dentist. They will be able to help relieve it and let you know what further steps you can take.