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Caring for your teeth after a root canal
The first week, the crown and the habits that protect the tooth for years.
After a root canal the nerve inside the tooth is gone, but the tooth itself stays and needs protecting. Here is what we tell our patients.
For the first two or three days, the area may feel tender when you bite. This is common and usually settles on its own. Your dentist will advise you on suitable pain relief at the appointment. If swelling appears or the pain increases instead of easing, call us.
Until the final crown or filling is placed, chew on the other side. The temporary filling is softer and the tooth is more likely to crack under hard food such as chikki or bones.
Most back teeth need a crown after a root canal, because a tooth without its nerve becomes more brittle over time. We usually fit the crown within two to four weeks. Front teeth may need only a filling.
After that, care for the tooth like any other: brush twice a day, clean between your teeth, and come for a check-up every six months. A root canal tooth can still get a new cavity at its edges, and you will not feel it, so regular X-rays matter.
