You may eat or drink as soon as the numbness wears off. If you must eat or drink before then, please do not eat any food that requires you to chew it (like a sandwich, for example); pudding, yogurt, etc. is ok. Likewise, hot liquids should not be consumed until after the numbness has worn off since they could accidentally burn you.

The tooth will likely be tender, especially during chewing, for anywhere from several days up to a few weeks after the treatment. This is normal, and the tooth will generally continue to improve over time. Sometimes tenderness may not become evident until 1-2 days after the treatment. If you were given antibiotic, continue to take it exactly as directed until it is gone. Improvement should be noted within a few days. Infrequently, more severe pain or swelling may occur. In this event, please notify our office.

AVOID CHEWING ON THE SIDE OF THE MOUTH THAT WAS TREATED UNTIL AFTER YOUR DENTIST HAS RESTORED THE TOOTH.

If you are experiencing discomfort, we recommend taking 400mg–600mg of Ibuprofen (2-3 Advil® or Motrin® tablets) every 4 – 6 hours. Alternatively, Naproxen (Aleve® 1-2 tablets) may be taken every 8 hours. If you are allergic to Ibuprofen and/or Naproxen, or if taking either of these medications is likely to cause you stomach problems, take two Tylenol® tablets every 4 hours.

It is also helpful to soak the tooth in very-warm salt water (one teaspoon of salt per 6-8 oz. glass of water) for 5 minutes every 45 – 60 minutes. This will help alleviate pain as well as promote faster healing. The water should be as hot as possible, but not so hot as to risk scalding.

Follow the above instructions only if you have been advised by our office.