Over-the-counter medications For mild to moderate discomfort caused by root canal treatment, over-the-counter (OTC) pain medicines such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be taken. Be sure to follow the instructions on the package carefully and never take more than is recommended for after root canal care.
Anti-inflammatory medications (IBUPROFEN, ASPIRIN, ALEVE) typically work best on soreness following root canal therapy and should be taken first if you are able. Anti-inflammatory drugs are excellent pain relievers and help to prevent the inflammation that causes pain. We recommend ADVIL (ibuprofen).
Ice Pack or Cold Compress. Cooling the site of your procedure will help to reduce inflammation and relieve pain. A reusable sports ice pack is ideal, but a cold washcloth or a bag of ice will also do the trick. Just hold it to your cheek for 5 minutes at a time, with a 10 to 15-minute break in between rounds.
In addition to infection, other things can cause abnormal pain following a root canal that might call for follow-up treatment– such as a missed canal, cement or air forced through the root tip, or an oversized crown or filling.
Root canals are effective procedures, and pain after a root canal is expected. Root canals involve deep cleaning within the canals of your tooth, which can irritate the surrounding nerves and gums. The pain after a root canal shouldn't last forever.
Discomfort Should Last No More Than 3 Days
The good news is that many patients feel no pain or discomfort after a root canal. In cases where patients do feel residual pain once the anesthesia wears off, the pain should last no more than 3 days.
The duration of root canal pain varies among individuals. It depends largely on the complexity of the procedure and the individual's overall health. At best, root canal pain after 3 days will lessen, but on average, it can last anywhere from a few days to about a week.
Swish salt water or peroxide – These rinses can relieve inflammation. Use an over-the-counter anesthetic – Stop by the pharmacy for a gel that you can apply straight to the teeth, or use clove oil for an all-natural remedy.
Applying ice to the area of the painful tooth can help to numb the pain. You can try different versions of this technique. Wrap some ice in a towel and apply it to the affected area. Keep the compress in place for 15 minutes at a time.
In general, non-NSAIDs and even opioids aren't very effective for toothache pain. If over-the-counter painkillers are not working for your toothache, call your dentist right away. You may need another medication, such as an antibiotic, in preparation for having the tooth pain fixed.
Patients usually notice pain a few hours after the root canal appointment. It can last anywhere between several hours to a couple of days. If you're going to have a bad day, it's usually 48-72 hours after treatment when swelling in the bone around the roots will typically peak.
Don't have hard or crunchy foods after the root canal: Even if you have resumed your normal life, try to avoid crunchy or hard foods. As mentioned above, the root canal site is still recovering and will take some time. So, unless your dentist permits, avoid these foods for some time.
This pain is usually resolved with analgesics (painkillers) available over the counter at your local pharmacist. The tooth usually requires 1-2 weeks to completely settle down once treatment has been completed.
It means that you need a dental crown to hold your tooth together. This will be determined during your first dental visit, allowing your dentist to create your dental crown installed on the second visit. To observe the success of the root canal procedure, dental experts take dental x-rays of the treated tooth.
In most cases, patients will experience mild discomfort or pain for the first few days after treatment. Generally, the pain is short-lived as long as the patient uses proper dental hygiene. If the pain lasts longer than a few days or gets worse, it could be a sign that something is wrong.
Typical signs of root canal infection pain are a continual dull ache or a sharp pain that often intensifies when biting down. Some people also experience extreme tooth sensitivity when eating or drinking something cold.
For Optimal Root Canal Recovery, Get the Rest You Need
If you can manage a day or two off work after your root canal treatment, you'll likely experience a quicker recovery time and feel better than if you tried to handle life as normal. Remember that oral surgery can make you sore and uncomfortable, leaving you tired.
The number one root canal recovery tip is to get as much rest as possible. Your body is trying to heal and getting an adequate amount of sleep will help you get back to your normal routine asap.
However, appropriate dental care and not antibiotics are essential after receiving root canals. Therefore you must make efforts not to reinfect your tooth by following your dentist's instructions and avoiding biting with the treated tooth.
Flare up is a postoperative pain that starts shortly after root canal therapeutic procedures and is manifested as pain and/or swelling episodes, requiring urgent treatment with an unscheduled appointment (Siqueira, 2003).
“Anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, Advil, Motrin or naproxen work well with dental pain because they reduce inflammation,” says Huang. Recent data has shown the combination of Advil (ibuprofen) and Tylenol (acetaminophen) is as effective as prescription opioids for tooth pain.
Paracetamol is a good painkiller but is less effective at reducing swelling, and therefore will provide less pain relief if you have a toothache. It can, however, be effectively used in conjunction with either Ibuprofen or Aspirin.
Non-removal of a dead tooth from your mouth is not wise because it can harm your remaining teeth and jaw, which is significantly dangerous. Depending on the extent and type of damage, the tooth may remain in your mouth for days, months, and even years before falling out by itself.