How long after a root canal can you eat
By
Dr Shivam Jha
This blog post will address the topic, “how long after a root canal can you eat” and cover topics like what is root canal treatment, when do you need it, care after root canal treatment, 5 precautions while eating after root canal, soft foods to eat after root canal, root canal failure, how to know if your root canal has failed and foods to eat to prevent from root canal.
How Long After A Root Canal Can You Eat
You can eat one to three hours after a root canal. The numbness takes almost 1 to 3 hours to go away and therefore you must eat after the numbness has subsided.
If you eat when your mouth is still numb, the risk of chewing and damaging your tongue, cheeks and lips increases.
Hence, it is advised to eat only after the numbness in your mouth disappears.
What Is A Root Canal?
A root canal treatment is an endodontic procedure in which the infected pulp is removed and the tooth is disinfected and cleaned completely to remove all the debris and infection remnants.
It is a painless procedure similar to a filling and is done by an endodontist.
The entire procedure of root canal may take one or two appointments. The number of appointments depend on the tooth condition and personal preference.
Overall, the root canal therapy involves three major steps called as the endodontic triad:
- Biomechanical preparation–includes drilling of the tooth crown in a proper manner to gain access to the tooth pulp cavity.
- Microbial control–complete removal of the infected pulp tissues.
- Obturation of the canal–includes filling and sealing the tooth with tooth filling material and assuring no micro-leakage.
When Do You Need A Root Canal?
Root canal is needed when you develop sensitivity and pain in the tooth due to a cavity or tooth fracture or due to any infection of the pulp.
You may need a root canal if you experience any one or more of the following symptoms:
- Sensitivity of the tooth while eating or drinking something hot and cold
- Tooth cavity and decay that has reached the pulp
- Accidental chipping off your enamel and nerves are exposed
- Cracked Tooth or injured tooth
- Gingival swelling or tenderness of the gums
These symptoms might alarm you and you must visit your dentist. Your dentist will advise you for an X-ray after which the diagnosis will be confirmed.
After the root canal is confirmed, your dentist may refer you to an endodontist for the treatment.
Care After Root Canal?
Care After First Appointment Of Root Canal
After the first appointment of root canal, your endodontist might have restored the tooth with a temporary filling which needs care to avoid any damage or fall out.
Care While Eating And Drinking
- Chew on the opposite side of the new filling with minimum pressure
- Eat Soft Foods as hard food puts a lot of pressure on the teeth surface causing discomfort to increase.
- Do not eat foods that are sticky in nature as it may stick to your new filling and dislodge it. This mostly happens with amalgam fillings.
- Eat slowly as this will put less pressure on the tooth and relieve the discomfort.
- Do not eat or drink anything that might trigger tooth sensitivity. Too hot, too cold or sugar rich foods and drinks must be kept away from your palate.
Care While Brushing
- Make sure to be gentle and slow while brushing after a temporary filling.
- Vigorous brushing and using extra force unknowingly will cause the temporary filling to fall out.
- Choice of soft bristled toothbrush is favoured for brushing the temporary filling without causing any damage to it or weakening it.
- You must also consider the time while brushing and should not over-brush.
Care While Flossing
- Flossing may damage and rip out a temporary filling.
- Flossing must be done gently and vigorous action should be avoided.
- Temporary fillings most commonly damage or fall out due to improper and non-gentle flossing.
- Avoid flossing if you have temporary filling placed in space between your teeth.
Even after a week, if the symptoms persist, call your dentist or an endodontist as your root canal might still contain some infected pulp tissue or there may be some other complication that needs to be resolved.
If everything is ok and your teeth feel alright, you’ll see your regular dentist within a few days of the root canal. They’ll take X-rays to make sure that any infection is gone. They’ll also replace the temporary filling with a permanent filling.
Ideally, after permanent filling, for a root canal to get complete, the dentist may recommend a crown for your tooth. It is up to your preference if you want a crown or not.
Crowns resemble your tooth in appearance and add a realistic and an esthetic look.
Care After Root Canal Treatment Is Complete
After your final treatment, your restored tooth should no longer be painful, although it may feel sensitive for a few days.
It is very important for you to maintain good oral hygiene and continue brushing teeth two times in a day along with flossing and occasional mouthwash.
Failure to brush after root canal may again cause poor oral hygiene resulting in cavities and decay.
5 Precautions While Eating After A Root Canal
After a root canal, you might feel some discomfort and need to follow the following to get some relief:
- Chew on the opposite side of the new filling with minimum pressure
- Eat Soft Foods as hard food puts a lot of pressure on the teeth surface causing discomfort to increase.
- Do not eat foods that are sticky in nature as it may stick to your new filling and dislodge it.
- Eat slowly as this will put less pressure on the tooth and relieve the discomfort.
- Do not eat or drink anything that might trigger tooth sensitivity. Too hot, too cold or sugar rich foods and drinks must be kept away from your palate.
All the above tips might relieve the discomfort caused after a root canal.
Soft Foods To Eat After Root Canal
Soft Foods to eat after root canal are:
- Dairy products including curd, cottage cheese and scrambled eggs
- Soup and broth
- Cooked fruits and vegetables
- Smoothies and protein shakes
- Mashed potatoes
- Oatmeal or cream of wheat
- Butternut squash
- Lentil soup
- Tilapia or other white fish with light seasoning
- Steamed soft veggies like squash or peas
- Polenta or grits
- Jell-O
- Bananas
- Apple sauce
- Cold coffee (not so cold!)
- Milk shakes
- Soft boiled rice
- Bread dipped in soup
It is advised to eat soft foods for 1-3 days after root canal and avoid hard and sticky foods and sugary foods that might aggravate the tooth sensitivity and pain.
Can The Root Canal Fail?
According to a published study, root canal treatment has a success rate of 86-98%.
The same study enumerates some common factors responsible for the failure of root canal:
- Improper or poor access cavity design.
- Incomplete removal of the infected pulp tissue.
- Inability to remove the infected remnants and debris.
- Improper or insufficient disinfection of the root canal.
- Missing an extra or accessory infected root canal, mostly when there are multiple canals present.
- Inadequate filling or over-filling of the canal.
- Inadequate seal that allows micro-leakage and bacterial infection to penetrate the tooth canal again.
- Crown breakage that allows the filling material to wear off eventually and bacterial penetration again in the cavity.
- Instrumentation errors like perforation or ledges.
The failure of root canal can occur at any time, may be soon after the treatment or may be years after.
How To Know That My Root Canal Has Failed?
Root canal failure may produce symptoms similar to that you experienced before root canal treatment or may not produce any symptoms at all.
However, the common symptoms of failed root canal treatment are:
- Pain
- Sensitivity
- Swelling in and around tooth
- Pus discharge from the tooth
- Discoloration of the tooth
- Abscess
- X-ray irregularities with no above mentioned symptoms
Eat Foods Rich In Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus And Vitamins To Prevent Root Canal
Calcium Rich Foods To Prevent Root Canal
Calcium plays an important role in enamel remineralization and saliva production.
The remineralization process is essential for the cavity to repair naturally and strengthen further to prevent any future formation of cavities.
Optimal saliva production acts as a natural cleanser and prevents plaque accumulation and acts as an adjunct in the process of preventing cavity formation.
All thanks to calcium rich foods like cauliflower, nuts, salmon and figs.
Magnesium Rich Foods To Prevent Root Canal
Magnesium is essential for remineralization of the enamel as well as to maintain a balance of minerals like calcium and phosphorus.
Magnesium deficiency will lead to enamel demineralization and weakening of the enamel, resulting in increased risk of cavity formation.
Leafy green vegetables, avocado and squash seeds are some magnesium rich foods that you can consider.
Phosphorus Rich Foods To Prevent Root Canal
Foods like meat, eggs and dairy products are rich in phosphorus and help in naturally healing the cavity in its earliest stage and also preventing its formation in the first place.
Vitamin D Rich Foods To Prevent Root Canal
Vitamin D is essential for calcium and phosphorus absorption in the body and its deficiency eventually wastes the calcium you intake.
Spending a few minutes in the morning sun gives an adequate amount of vitamin D to the body. However, foods like fish and egg yolks are rich vitamin D sources.
According to research, children with vitamin D deficiency had an increased risk of developing enamel defects and tooth fracture.
Study published in the journal of dental research, concluded that vitamin D is essential for lowering the risk of developing caries in children.
CONCLUSION
This blog post addressed the topic, “how long after a root canal can you eat”. We understood what root canal treatment is, when do you need it, care after root canal treatment, 5 precautions while eating after root canal and soft foods to eat after root canal.
The article outlined causes of a root canal failure, how to know if your root canal has failed and foods to eat to prevent a root canal.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs): How Long After A Root Canal Can You Eat
When can I brush after root canal?
You can brush only after 2 hours of root canal when the numbness due to local anesthetic ceases.
Once the numbness subsides, you can start brushing, flossing and mouthwash, as your normal daily oral care routine.
Is the crown necessary after the root canal?
The requirement of the crown depends on the location of the tooth that has undergone a root canal treatment.
Crowns are mostly needed for posterior teeth such as molars and premolars that are involved in chewing.
Incisors and canines are used mostly for tearing and biting and therefore do not necessarily require a crown.
Can you get a crown the same day as a root canal?
Yes, you may get a custom crown on the same day in just an hour or two.
The entire procedure of root canal may take one or two appointments. The number of appointments depend on the tooth condition and personal preference.
You can get a crown on the same day if it is a one day root canal appointment.
According to a study published in the journal of clinical pediatric dentistry, multiple appointments and single appointment root canal treatment reported similar success.
How long after a root canal should you get a permanent filling?
In not more than 6 weeks, you will be able to get a permanent filling done.
It is advised to not delay your appointment for permanent filling as it may weaken your temporary filling, cause its fall out and reinfect the canal leading to root canal failure.
What happens if you don’t put a crown on a root canal?
If you do not put a crown on a root canal, your outer tooth structure might damage and expose the root canal.
Other FAQs about Root canal that you may be interested in.
Can You Brush After Root Canal
Can You Drink Out Of A Straw After A Root Canal
Can You Eat After A Root Canal Without Crown
References:
What is a Root Canal?
Root Canal. (2018)
Root canal treatment. (2019)
Care After Root Canal Treatment Visits
Caring For Your Temporary Dental Filling
All About Temporary Fillings. (2020)
The Tooth Decay Process: How to Reverse It and Avoid a Cavity. (2018)
Siqueira, J.F., Jr (2001), Aetiology of root canal treatment failure: why well-treated teeth can fail. International Endodontic Journal, 34: 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2591.2001.00396.x
Singla, Rajesh et al. “Single Visit versus Multiple Visit Root Canal Therapy.” International journal of clinical pediatric dentistry vol. 1,1 (2008): 17-24. doi:10.5005/jp-journals-10005-1004