If your dentist has said that you need a root canal, now is the time to prepare for the recovery. Your dentist will probably prescribe pain medication for the first few days. However, you may still be experiencing some pain and tenderness after the prescription has run out. Here are some simple ways to alleviate the discomfort of a root canal.
Clove Oil
Clove oil contains eugenol, which is a natural anesthetic and antiseptic. A small amount of the oil will alleviate the pain and kill germs that can cause infections. To dull the pain of a root canal, simply saturate a cotton ball with a generous amount of clove oil and place it between the tooth and the side of your mouth. Leave it in place for about 5 minutes. Repeat several times a day.
Tea Tree Oil
If you don't like the idea of placing a cotton ball in your mouth, you can relieve the pain by rinsing your mouth with tea tree oil. Tea tree oil also contains ingredients that will dull the pain associated with a root canal. Place several drops of tea tree oil in an 8-ounce glass of warm water.
Swish the water around in your mouth for several minutes and then spit it out. Repeat the process until you've used all the water in the glass. You can use the tea tree oil mouth rinse several times a day to relieve the pain.
Alcohol
Years ago, people used ordinary alcohol to relieve toothache pain. You can receive the same relief today. Take a small mouthful of alcohol – such as whiskey or vodka – and swish it around in your mouth for a few minutes. The alcohol will kill the pain so you can rest.
Ice Packs
Ice packs are one of the easiest ways to relieve pain and discomfort associated with root canals. If you don't want to place hard ice packs on your face, you can make your own slush packs that are just as cold as traditional ice packs.
Simply place equal amounts of tap water and rubbing alcohol in quart-sized resealable plastic bags. Place the bags in the freezer and leave them there until you need them. The rubbing alcohol will prevent the ice from freezing completely. Instead, you'll have a cool bag of slush to place on your face.
For more information, contact Dodson Endodontics or a similar location.
Share15 September 2015
When the bottled water craze began, I jumped on the bandwagon with everyone else who was drinking water from bottles instead of from the tap. I wasn't sure why bottled water was healthier, but I liked the taste. When I went for my next dental check-up, I had my first cavity in a while, so I had it filled and didn't think much of it. Well, I had two more during my next check-up after that, and I began trying to think of why my teeth were suddenly going bad. The only change in my habits was the switch to bottled water, so I made the switch back to tap water and my teeth began to improve. I created this blog to encourage others who have begun getting cavities suddenly to look into their changes in habits. They may find they made a change similar to mine.