When you’re done having your root canal, you might have heard that it’s going to hurt afterwards, possibly even while you sleep. But how long does a root canal hurt after it’s done? And if it does hurt, how can you stop the pain or make it go away? Here are some tips to help you with root canal recovery time and deal with any pain.

Root canals

root canal recovery time is usually two to three days. Some people, however, feel tooth pain for up to two weeks after root canal treatment, but that pain isn't from inflammation or a lingering infection—it’s from nerve damage. Nerves are like electrical wires and roots act as their conduits. When you get a root canal procedure to remove infected tissue inside your tooth and restore it with an inert filling material, some of those nerve endings could get damaged in the process. The result: sensitivity and discomfort.

What painkillers can I take?

Root canal recovery time is notoriously long—it takes four to eight weeks on average. But even if you don’t want to wait that long, there are several over-the-counter painkillers that can help take some of the edge off during that period. Just be careful about taking too many painkillers because they might interfere with your body’s ability to heal itself. To avoid that problem, try Tylenol (acetaminophen) or aspirin for a few days and then switch to acetaminophen after that if you need more relief.

Follow your dentist’s orders

When you have a root canal, your dentist will most likely prescribe an antibiotic to prevent infection. This prescription should be taken as directed. If you have any questions, always check with your dentist before changing anything. Root canals are painful enough—you don’t want to suffer in pain longer than necessary just because you took antibiotics incorrectly.

Relax as much as possible

The first and most important thing to remember about root canal recovery time is that you’ll probably need to take it easy after your appointment. If you don’t, then your body won’t be able to relax and heal properly. The more relaxed you are after getting work done on your tooth, the faster everything will heal up so you can get back to doing what you love. Eating soft foods: Don’t eat anything hard or crunchy for at least two days after getting a root canal. Chewing hard foods could open up your tooth again while it heals, so stick with eating foods like soup, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs and oatmeal until your mouth is feeling better.

Ask your dentist what to expect during recovery time

A lot of patients who undergo root canal treatments assume that once their procedure is over, they can return to their normal activities immediately. However, there are some common aftercare instructions that your dentist will tell you to follow and you need to know what they are before leaving his office. Your dentist will let you know whether it’s OK for you to eat or drink certain foods or whether you have any restrictions on drinking alcohol while your mouth is healing. Also, don’t forget about pain medication—if your dentist gives you something for pain, take it as directed and don’t wait until later when it hurts more.

When to return to work

The length of time you need to rest before returning to work after having a root canal depends on your situation. There is no standard amount of time that applies to everyone. However, it’s safe to say that if you are feeling pain, you should not return to work until your discomfort has subsided—and be sure to tell your employer and dentist ahead of time when you expect it will be gone so they can accommodate any scheduling conflicts. Since root canals usually take at least two hours or more from start to finish, chances are good that you'll need at least two days off from work.

Take care of yourself

When you have a dental issue, such as tooth decay or an infected tooth, it’s essential to take care of yourself by getting treatment for your condition. The process begins with taking good care of your teeth and gums by brushing and flossing regularly. While there are over-the-counter medications that can alleviate pain while you’re waiting for your root canal appointment, don’t rely on them exclusively to manage pain in order to avoid complicating matters further. If you need help at home, ask someone close to you to check in on you often while you’re recovering from your root canal so they can lend support and assist if needed.