Aftercare card
After a root canal
What to expect after root canal treatment: numbness, tenderness, what to eat, when to get the final filling or crown, and when to call the clinic.
First 24 hours
Do
- Wait until the numbness wears off, usually 2–4 hours, before eating or drinking hot things.
- Take the pain relief you were advised, as directed on the pack.
- Brush and floss as usual, gently around the treated tooth.
- Keep any antibiotic course you were prescribed.
Avoid
- Chewing on the treated tooth while it is numb; you can bite your lip or cheek without noticing.
- Hard, sticky or crunchy food on that side.
- Smoking and alcohol.
Days 2–7
Do
- Chew on the other side until the tooth feels comfortable.
- Rinse with warm salt water if the gum feels sore.
- Keep the follow-up visit for the permanent filling or crown.
Avoid
- Biting hard on the tooth if it is still tender.
- Leaving the temporary filling for weeks without the final restoration.
After the final filling or crown
Do
- Return to normal chewing once the final restoration is in place.
- Brush twice a day and clean between the teeth daily.
- Attend regular check-ups; an X-ray is taken at review visits to check healing.
Avoid
- Biting ice, hard sweets or pen caps. A root-treated tooth can be more brittle, especially without a crown.
Normal while it heals
- Tenderness when you bite for a few days, sometimes up to 1–2 weeks
- Mild ache that eases with ordinary pain relief
- Slight soreness of the gum where the clamp or injection was placed
- A temporary filling that feels slightly different from your other teeth
- Jaw stiffness after a long visit
Call the clinic if
- Pain that is severe, throbbing or gets worse after the first 2–3 days
- Swelling of the gum or face
- The temporary filling falls out, or the tooth cracks or breaks
- Your bite feels high or uneven after the treatment
- A rash or other reaction to a medicine
- Fever, or a bad taste or pus near the tooth
- Swelling with difficulty swallowing or breathing: go to a hospital now
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