Have you heard that root canal therapy can save a tooth with a damaged center? If you decide avoid root canal therapy, the damaged tooth could eventually die and even fall out. Once you have root canal therapy, how should you continue to care for your teeth? More specifically, do you know what you should do—or avoid doing—to help your tooth heal?
First, you should avoid eating anything until after any numbness has worn off. If your mouth is numb, you could accidentally bite your tongue or your cheek and cause real damage. You should also only eat soft foods for the first few days following this therapy. Hard foods could cause damage to the work you just had done.
You should also remember to avoid drinking with a straw. Using a straw could disturb the tooth as it is healing and lead to a number of issues. You should also eat slowly and cautiously until your mouth heals. After you are finished healing, you should avoid chewing exclusively on the untreated side of your mouth. Unbalanced chewing can cause soreness and aches in your jaw.
If you’re interested in learning more about root canal therapy, we invite you to contact Root Canal Specialists, PC at 248-540-9191. Dr. Stephen T. McInerney will be happy to answer any questions you have and help you understand what you should expect to do after this treatment. We’re excited to hear from you soon.