What Soft Foods Are Okay to Eat After A Root Canal?
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At Bay City Dental Center, Dr. Matthew Ward may recommend root canal therapy when a patient has a cavity with a dying root that is causing a patient pain, tooth sensitivity, or even a broken tooth. During a dental exam with X-rays, he can decide if root canal therapy is best for your oral health. After having a root canal, you will need to know what foods to avoid to ensure your tooth heals properly after treatment at our Bay City, MI dental office.
What is a root canal?
A root canal is necessary when a patient has a severely decayed tooth that has reached the pulp of your tooth. This can even lead to an infection that causes pain and discomfort. Untreated cavities and cracks in the teeth can lead to this tooth infection that requires a root canal.
What causes the need for a root canal?
When you want Dr. Ward to save your tooth with a root canal, schedule an appointment at Bay City Dental Center when you notice any of the following:
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You have severe tooth pain, especially when chewing or putting pressure on your tooth.
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You notice a small, pimple-like bump on the gumline
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Your gums are tender or swollen around the tooth
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Your tooth is sensitive to hot or cold temperature
What happens during a root canal?
When tooth decay goes deep into the pulp, you will need a root canal. During a root canal, we administer local anesthesia to numb the tooth being treated. Next, our root canal specialist, Dr. Ward, drills through the crown of your tooth until he reaches the pulp. The area is cleaned thoroughly, and the pulp is removed. When the tooth is clean, gutta percha is used to close up the top of the crown. A temporary filling is placed until a crown is made to fully restore the tooth.
What foods to eat after a root canal
You can eat after a root canal, but you should avoid certain foods. Before you leave our Bay City, MI dental office, we will inform you of the best foods to eat almost immediately after your root canal. You will experience some tooth sensitivity while you’re healing. Since there isn’t a dental crown there to protect your tooth yet, we recommend eating soft foods until the swelling has gone down.
Foods that you can eat after a root canal include:
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Applesauce
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Banana
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Eggs
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Fruit smoothies
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Ice cream
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Mashed potatoes
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Oatmeal
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Soup
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Yogurt
Avoid hard or crunchy foods. Spicy foods may also bring discomfort or pain.
Learn when you need a root canal in Bay City, MI
Tooth decay can spread fast and will worsen over time when left untreated. However, at Bay City Dental Center, Dr. Matthew Ward specializes in diagnosing tooth decay in Bay City, Saginaw, and Midland, MI patients. During a dental exam, he can determine whether a patient needs root canal therapy. When you’re experiencing root canal symptoms, it’s important to schedule an appointment quickly with our root canal specialist.