Root canal therapy can help restore a weakened or damaged tooth. During your procedure,
your tooth will be numbed and your dentist will clean out the affected tissue and seal your
tooth, therefore helping to prevent any further problems. But what can you expect after the
procedure? Here’s how to care for a tooth after a root canal.

Use Caution When Eating

It’s important not to attempt to eat until the numbness has worn off from your mouth after
your root canal procedure. When you do eat, do your best to resist chewing on the side of your
mouth that contains the tooth that just had the root canal. Until you receive your permanent
restoration—a porcelain dental crown—you’ll want to put as little stress as possible on your
tooth.

You’ll also want to stick to softer foods during this time. It’s likely your mouth will be tender in
the hours and days after your root canal procedure, so be sure to have softer foods on hand.
It’s essential to avoid crunchy, hard, or sticky foods that could quickly damage your newly
restored tooth.

Keep Up with Your Oral Hygiene

While your tooth is healing, you’ll still need to brush and floss your teeth as normal. In fact,
keeping up with your oral hygiene will help to prevent an infection in your tooth, which is a
complication you’ll want to avoid following your root canal.

Although cleanliness is important, you should also be gentle when brushing your teeth. If your
dentist hasn’t yet advised you to, take this opportunity to get a soft-bristled toothbrush. You
can still brush gently while being thorough during this time of healing for your tooth.

Be Prepared for Some Discomfort

You can and should expect some soreness in the mouth following your root canal. For many
people, over-the-counter pain medication can help manage this discomfort. Your dentist will
prescribe something stronger if necessary.

Eating soft foods and keeping your mouth clean can also help to manage your pain or soreness,
but always follow up with your dentist if you’re concerned about your level of pain.

Always Ask Your Dentist

Keeping in touch with your dentist following your root canal if you have any questions or
concerns can help you have a speedy recovery. Calling your dentist is especially important if you
have increasing pain, swelling, or bleeding following the procedure, all of which should be
addressed by your dentist.

Getting root canal therapy can help save your tooth and alleviate pain from an infected or
damaged tooth. Taking proper care of your tooth following a root canal procedure can help you
recover quickly to enjoy a pain-free smile for life!

The post How to Care for a Tooth After a Root Canal appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

1. Visit Your Dentist

If you haven’t been to the dentist in a while, there’s no better time than now to commit to
going. With appointments every 6-12 months, this is a time commitment that everyone can
make. Visits to the dentist can prevent tooth decay, gum disease, and can even help catch oral
cancer early. Schedule an appointment with your dentist to get a dental exam and a
professional cleaning. Your smile will thank you!

2. Don’t Smoke

Smoking is one of the worst things you can do for your smile as well as your body. Smoking is
one of the biggest risk factors for certain types of cancer, including oral cancer, as well as gum
disease. Smoking also discolors teeth and often causes a yellow or brown tinge to your tooth
enamel. That doesn’t sound like the smile you want in the New Year!

There are more resources now than ever for quitting smoking. Talk to your dentist or your
doctor about quitting. There is hope that one day you’ll be cigarette-free, and remember—e-
cigarettes and chewing tobacco aren’t any better for your oral health!

3. Floss

There’s been some debate about whether flossing actually makes much of an impact on your
smile, but dentists remain firm—flossing should continue to be part of your oral care routine.
Flossing helps remove plaque and food debris from the sides of your teeth, which can’t be
reached with a toothbrush. Flossing needs to be done just once per day and only takes a few
minutes. This is an oral health improvement you can surely commit to doing!

4. Improve Your Diet

More research is showing just how crucial your diet is to your oral health. Diets high in sugar
and processed foods can lead to tooth decay and gum disease, while diets rich in whole foods
help supply your smile with the nutrients it needs to remain healthy and strong. In 2018, make
a commitment to eat more fruits and vegetables in addition to lean protein sources and healthy
fats such as walnuts, fish, and avocado. These diet improvements may help your pearly whites!

5. Limit Your Alcohol

Alcohol, like smoking, is a big risk factor for many cancers, including oral cancer. Alcohol is also
very damaging to your tooth enamel and can increase your risk of tooth decay. Like soda, it’s
very acidic and corrosive. For one of your New Year’s resolutions, try to limit your alcohol
intake. How much is too much? Many experts agree that 1 drink a day for women and 2 per
men is the maximum you should have!

Are you ready to ring in 2018 with a super smile? By incorporating these five resolutions into
your oral care routine, you can have a beautiful smile not just for the New Year, but for life.
Schedule an appointment with your dentist to set up a long-term care plan for one of the best
and most important things about you—your smile!

The post Top 5 New Year’s Resolutions for Improving Your Dental Health appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.