Coping With Root Canal Pain During The Holidays
If you're like most people, your holiday season is filled with the company of your family and friends, as well as plenty of scrumptious food. Most likely, you're looking forward to dinners full of ham, turkey, and all the trimmings, so getting a root canal right before the holidays isn't exactly ideal. Unfortunately, sometimes it's necessary. The good news is, you don't actually experience much pain during the actual root canal procedure. However, you may experience some discomfort after the root canal is complete. Check out these tips to learn how to cope with any root canal pain you have so you can enjoy your holiday feasts.
Over-The-Counter Medication
Before it's time to start eating, take an over-the-counter painkiller to dull any pain that you might have while you're eating. In addition to taking an over-the-counter painkiller, consider applying numbing gel to the tooth itself and the entire area surrounding the tooth. When you apply the gel, it numbs your tooth immediately, so when it's combined with the over-the-counter painkiller, you'll have plenty of time to relax and enjoy your food.
Make Smart Food Choices
It's common for people to overindulge on their favorite foods during the holiday season, especially on things such as sweets and junk food that they wouldn't normally eat throughout the year. You don't need to skip your favorite foods altogether. However, it is common for your teeth to be extra sensitive right after a root canal. Try to limit the quantity of sweets and sodas you consume so that you don't end up in pain. Also, you might want to avoid food and drinks that are extremely cold or hot.
Fast Pain Solutions
Taking precautions is important, but even if you've prepared yourself for a feast, it is possible that you'll experience some pain after you eat. The good news is, there are a few things that you can to fix the problem quickly, such as gargling salt water or holding an ice pack on your cheek to soothe the pain. Alternatively, you can suck on a cough drop. There is a tiny amount of anesthetic in cough drops that should help dull the pain.
Having a root canal during the holiday season isn't ideal, but it doesn't have to ruin your holiday fun either. If you take the time to prepare yourself, watch what type of foods you eat, and have a few things on hand if you need a quick fix, there's no reason you can't enjoy your family's holiday celebrations.