Do you feel like eating a lot of ice cream or chips after dental treatments like RCT? Worry not as you are not the only one who have incessant cravings for something tangy or sweet right after dental treatments such as root canals.
As a critical dental procedure, RCT is a surgery that helps save teeth by removing infected or damaged pulp. While many folks fear undergoing this procedure because they believe it will be painful and discomforting, the use of local anesthesia helps subdue the pain.
Experienced dental experts always use the right procedures to help make root canal treatment easier for you. Dr. Aishwarya, the best dentist in Patna, also uses local anesthesia to numb the affected area, ensuring a pain-free treatment.
However, the use of regional anesthesia also suppresses appetite and once it wears off, the hunger fires up. So, can you eat after a root canal without a crown immediately to satisfy this hunger?
Can You Eat After a Root Canal without Crown?
After completing the root canal treatment, the dentist uses a crown to prevent further infection and tooth decay. However, it is not placed immediately as the tooth needs time to heal. Until then, the patient is left without a crown.
So, is it a good idea to eat after a root canal without a crown? Well, according to Dr. Aishwarya, the best specialist for root canal treatment in Patna, yes one can eat but with caution.
One needs to adjust their diet accordingly to prevent sensitivity and keep the teeth filling in place and not interfere with the healing process.
Now, the only thing you need to take care of is eating the right foods. So, what to eat after root canal before crown placement?
5 Foods to Eat After a Root Canal without Crown
There’s one key rule to eating foods after a root canal without a crown, which is to always choose soft foods.
They are not hard on the teeth, easy to chew, and are very comforting. So, here are some soft foods to eat after root canal:
1. Eggs
During the recovery process, the body needs nutrients to heal. This is why eggs are the best option to eat after the root canal treatment. They are soft, a great source of protein, and rich in essential nutrients.
2. Mashed Potato
Mashed potatoes are a popular dish and in India, people eat them with rice and lentils. This statement may have made you wonder “Can I eat rice after root canal?”.
Yes, you can eat it but remember to make it soft and chewy so that it doesn’t cause discomfort on the side of the treated tooth.
3. Yogurt
Full of prebiotics, yogurt is an amazing food option to have after a root canal. It supports gut health and digestion which plays a huge role during the recovery.
The soft texture of this dairy product makes it easier to consume. So, if you were wondering “What can I eat 2 days after root canal”, you must rely on curd.
4. Steamed Vegetables
It would be unfair to not mention green vegetables while talking about nutritious food. Eat soft steamed vegetables that are not hard to chew.
Cook them well and choose vegetables like carrots, spinach, and broccoli. This is what experts suggest to include in your diet if you are wondering what to eat after root canal for dinner.
5. Ripe Fruits
Eating seasonal fruit is also helpful as they are good for overall health. They are rich in vitamins and minerals and also easy to have. Make sure to have fruits that are ripe or soft like bananas.
So, these were some foods that one can eat after a root canal without a crown. You must have noticed that we have only mentioned vegetarian foods, so what about the meat lovers?
Can you eat chicken after root canal? Well, non-vegetarians can eat well-cooked, tender chicken after root canal, which is easy to chew. Meats that are hard to chew like mutton should be avoided.
5 Foods to Avoid After a Root Canal without Crown
Taking care of the tooth after a root canal that too without a crown needs extra effort. That’s why along with knowing what foods to eat one should also know what not to eat after root canal treatment:
1. Hard and Crunchy Foods
Foods like nuts and seeds are indeed beneficial for health. But they are harmful after a root canal as they are hard to chew.
These types of foods need good biting forces, which is not possible for RCT patients during the recovery period.
2. Sticky Foods
Keeping the filling intact is extremely crucial for the recovery of the teeth after RCT. This is why patients should avoid sticky foods like candies and dry fruits as they can get stuck with filling and pull it off.
3. Very Hot Or Cold Food Items
Dentists may recommend patients have soup or broth after the treatment.
But one should keep in mind that the soup should not be too hot as extreme temperatures can cause discomfort. This also means that very cold foods or drinks are also not recommended.
4. Acidic and Spicy Foods
Patients should also avoid acidic foods and drinks as they can irritate the treated area. This can harm the healing process or may also lead to complications.
So, avoid fruits, such as lemon and tomato and stay away from spicy dishes.
5. Foods with Small Seeds
Foods that have tiny seeds like watermelon or pomegranate are not good after RCT as they can get stuck in the teeth. It will lead to irritation or may also give rise to bacteria.
Apart from these, also avoid alcohol because it can cause discomfort in the treated tooth. And if you’re someone who drinks regularly, you should take control of yourself for a certain period till the tooth heals.
Tips to Maintain Diet After RCT without Crown
If you have come this far in the blog, then you must have understood that one needs to take extra care of their teeth after RCT until the permanent crown is not placed.
So, here are some tips to maintain the diet after RCT without a crown:
- Avoid chewing your food on the same side of the tooth that got treated.
- When you start eating, start with only soft foods and liquids and avoid chewing anything hard for the first 24-48 hours.
- Do not eat or drink anything until the local anesthesia wears off completely to avoid accidentally biting your cheek or tongue.
- Brush gently with a soft bristles toothbrush to keep the filling intact.
- Remember that the temporary filling is not going to be as strong as the permanent crown, so chew your food carefully and slowly.
- Avoid eating or drinking anything too hot or cold to avoid triggering the tooth sensitivity.
Perhaps the most important advice is to not eat anything until you can feel the effects of anesthesia. Every patient gets a local anesthesia before oral surgery and RCT, so this is something you should expect before your appointment.
Along with these tips, also follow your dentist’s instructions religiously for the success of your root canal treatment.
When Can Patients Expect to Return to Normal Eating Habits?
One can eat soft foods after the numbness is gone from teeth and gums. This will take a few hours.
However, to eat normally, a patient has to wait a little longer. Once the permanent crown or restoration is complete, the patients can go back to normal eating habits, which may take a few days.
Remember to be cautious even after that. Use common sense and avoid those foods that result in discomfort.
For example, if you notice your teeth feel sore after having a chicken burger, then you may need to stay away from chewy foods.
Also, give a call to Dr. Aishwarya’s Multispeciality Dental Clinic if you’re having serious complications. It is the best dental clinic in Patna for major treatments like root canal treatment.
The staff at Dr. Aishwarya’s clinic is compassionate and cordial to help patients get immediate relief from painful symptoms and dental issues.
When to Contact the Dentist?
Getting a crown after RCT is indeed crucial for oral health. Sometimes complications occur after the treatment due to lifestyle choices.
In such cases, one must contact a dentist immediately if they wish to save their root canal. So, here are some signs that indicate you need to contact your dentist:
- Severe and persistent pain
- Swelling in the mouth, which is visible
- Allergic reactions like rashes
- Uneven bite
Book your appointment with Dr. Aishwarya immediately if you experience any of these issues. In fact, get in touch immediately if your root canal teeth fall out or you experience severe pain around the treated area.
Dr. Aishwarya will give you the right treatment along with tips to maintain your diet after RCT. This is because diet plays a huge role in preventing dental issues.
Book RCT Appointment Today to Experience Relief from Dental Discomfort!
The dentist uses crowns after RCT to protect the teeth and prevent further infection and tooth decay. While you can eat after a root canal without a crown, you need to be cautious.
What happens is the treated teeth and the gums surrounding them need some time to heal. This is why the crown is not placed immediately and until then a patient has to eat and avoid certain kinds of food.
In this blog, we have talked about those foods in detail along with some tips for maintaining the diet.
If you have any discomfort after RCT due to poor dietary choices, contact Dr. Aishwarya immediately. She is the best dental surgeon in Patna for serious issues and is also a gold medalist in Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics. So, you know you are in good hands when you get treated at her clinic.
Dr. Aishwarya runs the best dental clinic in Patna and you can visit Dr. Aishwarya’s Multispeciality Dental Care Clinic directly to address emergency complaints.