How To Care For Your Child After They Get A Root Canal

A root canal can be scary even for adults, so if your child successfully went through one, then they certainly deserve some praise!

But parents may wonder what they need to do to care for their child after a root canal. If you’ve had one yourself and remember the aftermath wasn’t exactly pleasant, you might be anxious about the amount of discomfort your child will experience.

Here’s how to help your child handle any discomfort after a root canal:

Common Post-Root Canal Symptoms

A root canal involves cleaning the inside of the tooth of all the bacteria and decay, then disinfecting the tooth to leave it clean and healthy.

Though it’s not a major procedure, there is a recovery time. Your child’s body will need a few days until things get back to normal. Luckily, most kids bounce back around 7 days.

Here are some symptoms your child may complain about during their root canal recovery:

• Pain: The child may still have a toothache a few days after their root canal. However, it won’t be nearly as intense as the pain they felt when the tooth was infected. You can give them OTC pain medication formulated for kids to manage their discomfort; 

• Swelling: The tooth may become slightly swollen. Apply a cold compress to the child’s cheek to help reduce their discomfort. Many pain medications also have anti-inflammatory properties, and could keep swelling at bay;

• Sensitivity: The child’s tooth might only hurt when they eat something too cold or too hot. Try to give them room-temperature foods for a few days, until the tooth heals.

The child’s symptoms usually peak 2-3 days after the root canal, then gradually disappear. If that’s not the case and your child’s discomfort is persistent, reach out to your pediatric dentist in Ashburn right away.

Other Ways to Help Your Child After a Root Canal

Apart from addressing specific symptoms, these tips can help the tooth heal properly:

• Continue to brush their teeth and floss
• Ask them to chew on the other side of the mouth
• Give them softer foods that don’t require a lot of chewing for the first 2-3 days
• Avoid giving them sugary treats or juices
• Avoid nuts, crackers, or hard foods
• Give them a tall glass of tap water after every meal or ask them to rinse the mouth
• If your dentist offered any other specific instructions, be sure to follow them to the letter

How Little Smiles Pediatric Dentistry Can Help

Is your little one complaining of a bad toothache? Bring them to see Dr. Jonathon Konz for a short consultation and to get their oral health restored.

You can request a visit to Little Smiles Pediatric Dentistry by using our online form.

Have more questions about our services? Then, you can call us at (703) 687-1581 and we’d be happy to answer all of them.