What Should I Do If I Have Pain After Root Canal Treatment?

Is tooth pain after root canal procedures normal? In the past, this procedure had been known to cause extreme pain for patients. This is one of the reasons why people tend to avoid having root canals done, because of this connotation. However, what is the truth about root canal pain? This article will talk about root canal treatment, the tooth pain associated with root canal procedures and how to deal with it. If you are experiencing tooth pain, you can visit www.adcdubbodentist.com.au/tooth-implant-pain to learn what to do.

Root canal pain

The pain that is felt when a person needs a root canal is caused by the infected pulp inside the tooth. This infected pulp will need to be removed to get rid of the tooth pain. However, this pain happens before the root canal surgery.

During the surgery, the patient should not expect to feel any pain because anesthesia will be applied to the area to prevent the patient from feeling pain during the procedure. After the procedure, the patient will be moved to a recovery room for a few hours to recover from the procedure.

After the anesthesia wears off, the patient may experience mild discomfort and tooth sensitivity. The pain is usually bearable, and can usually be managed by over-the counter medications for pain. This is normal, and these uncomfortable feelings should subside as the days go by.

Dealing with pain after a root canal treatment

After the root canal procedure is finished, the patient will feel some pain. However, not all patients will feel pain after the anesthesia will have worn off. In patients who do experience pain, they can expect to feel mild to moderate pain right after the effects of the anesthesia have worn off. Here are a few solutions a person can do if they feel pain after the root canal treatment.

Hot and cold compress

You can use a hot or cold compress to ease the pain and reduce the swelling, if there is any present. You can alternate between a hot and cold compress as you try this home remedy on the tooth pain you feel after getting root canal treatment.

Over-the-counter pain killers

These medications are specially designed to help alleviate pain. Taking medications will have an almost instant effect and will help a person deal with the pain as they recover from the root canal procedure. However, there are many people who do not want to take medications for their tooth pains.

Saltwater rinse

Many people know that salt has natural pain inhibiting qualities because of its antibacterial qualities. Mix a teaspoon of salt in lukewarm water and mix it. Use this mixture and swish it around the affected tooth. The saltwater rinse can help relive pain as well as clean the area as the person recovers from the root canal treatment.

What causes the pain after a root canal procedure?

The root canal procedure is meant to clean the inner parts of the tooth and get rid of the infected pulp inside the tooth. Once the tooth is cleaned, it will be capped off with a filling. The tooth will not look any different from any other tooth, and people who see the person smile will not be the wiser that the person had a root canal procedure done on that tooth.

The pain caused by the infected tooth pulp should be gone after the root canal procedure. However, if pain will occur after the procedure, the cause will be different. Usually, pain after root canal surgery is caused by the nerves in the surrounding teeth that were disturbed by the root canal treatment. After the procedure, they may still be inflamed or irritated, this is what usually causes a person to feel pain in the tooth.

In the days following the surgery, the pain after root canal should subside because the nerves that were irritated should go back not normal. The most time that a person should feel pain should only be for a few days at the most.

When to see a dentist for tooth pain after a root canal

The pain of a root canal procedure is usually caused by irritated nerves in the surrounding teeth and gums. The pain should only last for a few days, with the pain lessening as each day goes by. However, if the pain is steady, is intermittent but does not lessen as time goes by or if it gets worse during the recovery process, it is a good idea to go back to the dentist who performed the root canal procedure.

If the pain gets worse, or does not subside, there is a chance that there is an infection inside the tooth that needs immediate attention. The dentist who originally performed the root canal will be able to treat the root cause of the pain.

Infection after root canal treatment

If there is extreme pain after the root canal treatment, it may mean that there is an infection in the tooth. This may be caused by the dentist not being able to get all the infected pulp out of the tooth, or it may be because the filling was not applied properly, and more bacteria was able to enter the tooth through the hole or gap in the filling.

Good oral health practices after a root canal

The one thing that can prevent pain and infection after root canal procedures is to practice good oral hygiene habits.These habits will not only be good for the tooth that had the procedure, but for your overall oral health.

Brush teeth at least twice a day, making sure that there are no particles of food left over that can cause bacterial growth in the mouth. Floss at least once a day, preferably before going to sleep at night.

Also avoid triggers of tooth sensitivity, eating hard food or anything that can inhibit the healing of the root canal site. If you are unsure about what to do, your dentist will advise you on proper oral care tips before you leave the dental clinic after the procedure is finished. Taking care of your oral health after the procedure will ensure that your root canal will heal quickly and painlessly.