Can I Brush My Teeth after a Root Canal?

Patients needing a root canal often worry about whether they can brush their teeth after receiving this painful treatment. If you need a root canal, you may have similar questions and inquire with the dentist near you about how soon you can start brushing your teeth after this intensive procedure.

While it is best to keep your dental health optimal to avoid needing a root canal, you may fear that the painful root canal therapy will not allow you to brush your teeth for several days until you recover. However, root canals are not as painful as you imagine because the treatment eradicates any infection inside your tooth that causes severe toothaches besides lingering temperature sensitivity to hot and cold foods and beverages, even after removing the sensation. Therefore when you receive a root canal on an infected tooth, you can continue brushing your remaining teeth as usual to maintain optimal dental health. However, you must exercise caution near the treated tooth to prevent irritating it and delaying your recovery.

Why Would You Need a Root Canal?

Root canal treatment in Breckenridge becomes essential if you develop an infection in your tooth and leave it untreated to allow mouth bacteria to penetrate deep inside the tooth to infect the dental pulp at the center of your tooth. Besides untreated infections, root canals also become necessary if you have a chipped or broken tooth encouraging bacteria to penetrate it. In addition, improper dental hygiene maintenance that causes cavities to develop on your teeth is also a reason for root canals when you leave them untreated without dental fillings.

You become vulnerable to receiving a root canal because you experience excruciating pain in the infected tooth besides temperature sensitivity to hot and cold foods and beverages, painful biting and chewing, dental abscesses indicating the spread of the infection to your jawbone, et cetera. Root canals help eradicate the disease within your tooth to help preserve it because the only alternative to receiving a root canal is to extract the tooth and seek replacements with artificial solutions.

You are sadly mistaken if you think root canals are incredibly painful because you feel no discomfort when receiving treatment from the dentist in Breckenridge. The dentist provides local anesthesia in your mouth besides sedation if you are anxious about the treatment. After your mouth is numb, the dentist drills an access hole in your tooth to expose the infected dental pulp to remove the nerves. As you remain relaxed in the dentist’s chair, the professional removes the dental pulp and the nerves, cleans and disinfects the canals, and seals them with a rubber-like biocompatible material, gutta-percha, to ensure the infection doesn’t spread further. The access hole created in the crown of your tooth also receives a temporary filling to prevent bacteria from entering it.

What after a Root Canal?

After a root canal, the dentist provides after-care instructions to look after your tooth during the healing. For example, the dentist suggests you eat soft foods at room temperature during your recovery and refrain from smoking or consuming alcohol because they can delay your recovery.

Root canals cause some pain after therapy, but the discomfort is from the procedure, not the infection inside your tooth. The dentist suggests taking painkillers to alleviate the pain and asking you to eat foods from the other side of your mouth than the treated tooth.

Brushing your teeth after a root canal is not challenging because you receive the treatment on a specific tooth and not all your teeth. Therefore you can continue brushing and flossing, as usual, using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. However, you must exercise caution near the treated tooth to ensure you don’t irritate or dislodge the temporary filling until you restore it with a permanent filler or a dental crown. You can gently brush around the treated tooth until it heals in approximately 72 hours.

Can We Use Mouthwash after a Root Canal?

No, you cannot use mouthwash after a root canal because most commercial brands contain alcohol harmful to your tooth. Alcohol also interacts with the pain-relieving medications you receive to alleviate discomfort after the painful therapy. However, you can use home remedies like saltwater rinses to clean your mouth several times during the day, especially after having meals.

Brushing your teeth is a fundamental task you must indulge in daily without exceptions. Brushing after a root canal might appear like a challenge, but if you use the suggestions mentioned above, you can keep your teeth clean and get the tooth restored soon after you recover with a permanent filling or a dental crown.

If you need a root canal, Breckenridge Dental Group performs numerous minimally invasive techniques and provides comprehensive instructions on caring for the treated tooth after receiving the treatment. Consult them today if you think a painful tooth in your mouth needs this therapy to alleviate pain and prevent the tooth from extraction.