How to stop throbbing pain after a root canal
A dull ache for a day or two can be the ligament around the tooth settling. Throbbing that climbs, plus swelling, is the dentist — tonight, not next week.
By Adnan Farooq
Use the pain plan you were given
Most offices suggest an anti-inflammatory if your stomach and kidneys allow it, sometimes alternating with acetaminophen. Stay inside the label and the dentist’s note. Do not invent a second antibiotic.
Keep the bite quiet
Chew on the other side. A tooth that only hurts when you bite may simply be tall and need a five-minute adjustment. Call and say that — it is a common visit, not a failure.
Watch the clock and the cheek
Pain that eases a little each day is the usual path. Pain that worsens after day two, a gum boil, a bad taste, or facial swelling means the canal or the bite needs to be seen again.
Watch for this
- Fever, trouble swallowing, or swelling toward the eye or neck is urgent.
- Do not place aspirin on the gum. It burns tissue.
When to get help
Call the endodontist or dentist the same day if pain is rising. After hours, an emergency dental line or urgent care is appropriate for swelling and fever.