Tips to Manage Pain While Waiting for Root Canal Treatment

You visit your dentist for a routine appointment to receive information you have a cavity in your tooth needing treatment promptly. You think the hole isn’t causing any pain or sensitivity and put off the treatment for later. Unfortunately, you don’t realize the infection in your tooth continues expanding to cause severe damage.

Six months down the line, during your next dental appointment, the dentist breaks the dreadful news that the cavity has expanded and needs treatment immediately from an endodontics specialist. You ignore the recommendation without understanding what endodontic treatment means. You waste more time until one fine morning you develop pimples on the gums and experience severe pain when chewing or biting besides lingering sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures. You rush to the dentist requesting a remedy only to receive information undergoing a root canal is the only option.

You accept the suggestion requesting the dentist to perform root canal treatment as soon as possible. Unfortunately, dentists are not magicians and will refrain from performing endodontic therapy on an infected tooth. Instead, they drain the pimples on the tooth and provide antibiotics asking you to wait until the infection and pain subside. The excruciating pain accompanied by fever makes you uncomfortable to inquire about how to manage the pain until your appointment for root canal therapy.

How to Manage Discomfort While Waiting Root Canal Therapy?

The dentist comforts you with information that after undergoing root canal therapy, the pain and discomfort you experience will disappear. In the meanwhile, they offer recommendations to manage the pain until your scheduled appointment. What are the suggestions dentists provide?

Get Comprehensive Information about Your Treatment Plan

If you are experiencing immense pain with your tooth must always discuss the treatment plan with your dentist. The infection in your mouth will make you eligible for particular needs or medications you may have no information about. You must avoid harmful drug interactions and inform your dentist about any medicines you take, including over-the-counter. Do not consider canceling your appointment if you find relief from the pain due to any reason. Tooth decay doesn’t get better by itself but worsens.

Hot and Cold Foods and Beverages Are a No-No

That you are experiencing sensitivity in the tooth confirms your nerves are exposed and without protection against any hot and cold foods and drinks. Without the defense, the sensitivity you feel becomes a pain. Therefore you must avoid hot and cold foods and beverages. It would help if you went brushing your teeth with warm or cold water to ease the discomfort. However, using a cold compress on your cheeks helps some relief.

Stay Away from Sugar and Acids

You must avoid foods high in sugar or having acidic properties. Sugary foods and beverages can worsen to decay without causing you to experience any pain. The situation might worsen over time resulting in intense pain. To break the cycle, you must stay away from fruit juice, lemonade, hot chocolate, coffee, citrus, candy, ice cream, and sodas.

Over-The-Counter Pain Relievers

You can take over-the-counter pain relievers so long as your dentist also recommends the same. These medicines merely reduce inflammation and may also help with the pain you experience. You will likely not get rid of the infection or pain but will find some relief from them currently. However, don’t ever consider taking more than the recommended dose, irrespective of how painful the tooth is. Avoid using pain medications directly on the infected tooth to prevent chemical burns on your gums, increasing the pain significantly.

Clove Oil Might Help

Plenty of dental products contain clove oil because it functions as an antiseptic and aesthetic. In addition, many drugstores store clove oil in the supplements counter. You can use the oil as a home remedy by dabbing a cotton ball with the oil and placing it over the affected tooth for around 10 seconds. However, do not consider swallowing the oil because it is not for ingestion.

Brushing and Flossing

As you wait to undergo root Canal dental, there is no reason for you to avoid brushing and flossing your affected tooth. You must make an effort to keep your mouth clean because it helps with the pain you experience. In addition, flossing between the painful tooth to remove particles and plaque helps reduce the discomfort.

Finally, remember delaying treatments to fill cavities when recommended by your dentist results in tooth decay expanding in your mouth to necessitate root canal treatments. Avoiding this intensive treatment is better than enduring the pain after letting the infection leave you with significant damage to your tooth.