- Avoid disturbing the treatment area.
- Allow a few days, especially the first 24 hours, for your body to naturally heal and “clot.”
- Avoid dislodging the clot with swishing, sucking through a straw, and smoking.
- Prevent toothpicks, eating utensils, or crunchy foods from making contact with the treated area.
- Chew on the opposite side of your mouth for 24 hours.
- Control bleeding with gauze and light pressure for 30 minutes after your procedure. Avoid removing the gauze during that time. The appearance of blood is normal for in the hours following your procedure.
- Avoid smoking after your procedure for at least one week. The suction can dislodge the clot and you may also be susceptible to “dry socket.”.
- Reduce your pain with over-the-counter pain relievers (Tylenol, Advil, non-aspirin pain relievers) every 3 to 4 hours until bedtime.
- Use prescribed pain medication as needed and with food or milk to reduce stomach irritation.
- Avoid alcohol if taking any prescribed pain medication.
- Apply an ice-bag to the facial area of your procedure in 15 minute increments for the first day following your procedure.
- Expect numbness to last for a few hours following the procedure. Avoid chewing or biting until the anesthesia wears off.
- Eat soft foods for the first 2 to 4 days, maintain a balanced diet, and drink plenty of water.
- Avoid alcohol for 48 hours.
- Avoid chewing directly on the area of your procedure.
A "root canal" is not a treatment, but part of a tooth. It is the hollow section of a tooth that contains the nerve tissue, blood vessels, and other cells, also known as the pulp. A tooth consists of a crown and roots. The crown is mainly above the gum, while the roots are below it. The roots attach the tooth to the jawbone. Inside the crown and the root, or the root canal, is the pulp. The pulp nourishes the tooth and provides moisture to the surrounding material. The nerves in the pulp sense hot and cold temperatures as pain. The name of the dental procedure commonly referred to as a "root canal" is actually endodontic therapy, which means "inside the tooth." However, the term "root canal" has come to be commonly used to talk about the procedure.
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