What should I have asked before my root canal?

Yeah, I totally get that. I always end up overthinking what I should’ve asked after the fact. For my first root canal, I didn’t realize my jaw would be sore for days from just keeping it open so long. Also, I wish someone had warned me about how sensitive the tooth might be for a week or two. It’s wild how you only think of these things when it’s too late to ask.

It’s wild how you only think of these things when it’s too late to ask.

Totally relate to this. When I had my root canal, I was so focused on getting through the actual procedure that I didn’t even think to ask about the after-effects. The jaw soreness caught me off guard, too - I remember feeling like I’d done a marathon of yawning. For me, the weirdest part was how the tooth felt “different” for a while, almost hollow or echo-y? Not painful, just odd. I wish someone had told me that was normal, because I kept worrying something was wrong.

The jaw soreness caught me off guard, too - I remember feeling like I’d done a marathon of yawning.

Oh man, jaw soreness is so real. I actually had trouble chewing for a couple days after mine. That “echo-y” feeling you mentioned? Totally normal - turns out it’s just the tooth adjusting since it’s no longer “alive” inside. I wish I’d asked about how long that sensation would last, because it freaked me out at first. Also, nobody warned me about sensitivity to cold drinks for a bit... not painful, just weird.

That sensitivity to cold is such a weird thing, isn’t it? My kid had a root canal, and I was surprised by how long she noticed little twinges - she kept asking if it was supposed to feel “hollow” in there. Nobody warned us about the jaw soreness either, and she ended up eating soup for a couple days. I wish someone had explained more about what’s actually normal after, because otherwise you start worrying every new sensation means something’s wrong.

That “hollow” feeling is so familiar - my daughter said almost the same thing after her root canal, and I honestly didn’t know what to tell her at first. I kept wondering if it meant something was wrong, but when we called the dentist, they said it’s pretty normal for the tooth to feel different for a while. Apparently, it can take weeks (or longer) before that sensation fades. Did your kid’s dentist mention how long those twinges might last? Ours just said to watch for anything getting worse, like swelling or major pain, but otherwise not to worry.

I wish they’d been clearer about the jaw soreness too. My kid could barely open her mouth wide enough to eat, and I thought maybe something had gone wrong with her jaw joint. Turns out, holding your mouth open for so long during the procedure just makes everything ache after. She lived on yogurt and mashed potatoes for a few days. Did you end up giving your kid any pain meds, or just let them ride it out with soft foods?

I totally get what you mean about needing more info on what’s “normal.” Next time (if there is a next time), I think I’d ask: How long should we expect weird sensations? What’s actually a red flag? And is it normal for the tooth to feel different forever? It would’ve saved me a lot of anxious Googling at 2am.

Did your dentist give you any kind of aftercare sheet or checklist? Ours was pretty vague - just “call us if there’s swelling or fever.” Not super helpful when you’re dealing with a worried kid who keeps poking her tooth and asking if it’s supposed to feel weird. Maybe dentists assume parents already know this stuff, but honestly, I felt clueless.

If you ever need reassurance - it seems like most of this is par for the course. But yeah, I wish they’d spell it out better too...

That hollow feeling really does mess with your head, doesn’t it? When I had mine, I kept poking at the tooth with my tongue for weeks, convinced something was off. My dentist just said, “It’ll settle down,” but didn’t give much detail. I ended up taking ibuprofen for a couple of days and stuck to soup and scrambled eggs. Did your daughter’s dentist say anything about avoiding crunchy foods or when she could start chewing normally again? I always wonder if I rushed that part too soon.

That tongue-poking thing is so real - almost like your brain can’t accept the new “hollow” feeling. In terms of food, I usually tell people to stick with soft stuff until the numbness wears off and then avoid chewing on that side until the permanent filling or crown’s in place. Crunchy foods can crack a temp filling, which just leads to more hassle. Did they mention if your daughter’s tooth was getting a crown after? That timing can change things a bit.

That hollow feeling is wild, isn’t it? I kept poking at mine with my tongue for like a week after my root canal - couldn’t help it. The whole “don’t chew on that side” advice is spot on, though. I got a temp filling and thought I’d be fine with soft bread, but even that felt weird, like it could just fall out. I was so anxious about messing something up before the crown went on.

Honestly, I wish I’d asked more about what to expect between appointments. My dentist didn’t really mention how careful I needed to be with the temp filling, and I ended up worrying about every little twinge. And yeah, the timing for the crown matters a lot. Mine took two weeks and I felt like I was living with a fragile tooth the whole time.

If your daughter’s getting a crown, maybe just double check when she can eat normally again. I was way too paranoid, but better safe than sorry…I’d rather annoy my dentist than need another appointment.

Man, I totally get that weird urge to poke at the spot with your tongue - couldn’t stop myself either. The temp filling paranoia is real. I wish I’d asked about what foods were safe, too; even mashed potatoes felt risky at one point. My dentist was chill but not super detailed on aftercare, which left me Googling way too much. Next time, I’d probably annoy them with more questions about pain, eating, and how fragile things really are in between. Better to feel a little silly than end up back in the chair, right?

The tongue thing is impossible to resist, right? I remember thinking even oatmeal was pushing my luck after my temp filling. Honestly, I wish dentists were a bit more upfront about what’s actually risky vs what just feels weird. Next time, I’m definitely asking for a food list and some straight talk about sensitivity - no shame in wanting to avoid round two in the chair.

I actually think the whole “ask for a food list” thing can be a bit overrated. My dentist gave me one, but honestly, it was so generic - like, “avoid hard foods.” Well, duh. What I wish I’d done was ask more about *why* certain foods are risky and what’s just normal weirdness after the procedure. Half of it is just nerves making you hyper-aware of every twinge.

What I wish I’d done was ask more about *why* certain foods are risky and what’s just normal weirdness after the procedure.

That’s such a good point. The “avoid hard foods” list is pretty vague, but the real reason is usually about not putting pressure on a tooth that’s still healing (or has a temp filling). I remember thinking every twinge meant something was wrong, but honestly, mild aches or sensitivity are just your nerves settling down. If you ever get sharp pain or swelling, that’s when it’s worth calling. But yeah, half the battle is convincing yourself it’s not all falling apart...

half the battle is convincing yourself it’s not all falling apart...

That’s so true. I wish someone had explained the difference between “normal healing” and actual warning signs in more detail - like, how much swelling is too much? I ended up googling way too much and just stressing myself out. Did anyone else get advice about how long to wait before eating on that side, or does it really just depend on the dentist’s approach?

I had a root canal last year and honestly, the aftercare instructions were kind of vague. My dentist said to avoid chewing on that side for a day or two, but didn’t really specify beyond that. I remember panicking over some swelling too, but it turned out to be pretty normal. Did anyone else get told to rinse with saltwater, or is that just an old-school thing?

- Swelling’s pretty par for the course - mine looked worse than it felt.
- Saltwater rinses? Still a thing, but not everyone recommends them. I did it anyway because my grandma swore by it.
- Would’ve been nice if they mentioned how weird your bite feels after. That threw me off way more than the swelling.
- Chewing on the other side is smart, but soft foods are your friend for a couple days.
- If you’re ever unsure, just call the office. They’ve heard every “is this normal?” question under the sun.

Would’ve been nice if they mentioned how weird your bite feels after. That threw me off way more than the swelling.

That’s such a good point - nobody really warns you about the bite feeling “off” for a while. Totally normal, though. Swelling and mild discomfort are expected, but if you notice severe pain or persistent swelling after a few days, it’s wise to check in. Saltwater rinses are generally safe, but not always necessary. You’re doing everything right by sticking to soft foods and calling the office when unsure. It gets easier each day.

I gotta say, I actually found the saltwater rinses pretty helpful, even if they’re not “necessary.” Maybe it’s old-school, but it made my mouth feel cleaner and less sore. And that bite - yeah, felt like I was chewing sideways for a week.

That sideways bite thing is so weird, right? I remember after my root canal, I kept second-guessing if my bite would ever feel normal again. Did your dentist mention how long it’d take for your bite to settle back, or did you just have to wait it out? I always wondered if I should’ve asked more about what to expect with soreness and eating. Did you find anything that helped besides saltwater rinses?

I totally get what you mean about second-guessing your bite. After my root canal, I kept biting the inside of my cheek for weeks and wondered if my mouth would ever “reset.” My dentist just said it could take a while for things to settle, but honestly, I wish I’d pushed for a more specific answer. Did yours say anything about jaw soreness or how long the weird bite feeling might last?

For soreness, saltwater rinses helped a bit, but I found that sticking to softer foods - like scrambled eggs and yogurt - was the only thing that really made eating bearable. Ice packs on the outside of my jaw gave me some relief too. Did you notice your jaw getting tired from chewing on one side? That drove me nuts.

It’s reassuring to hear I’m not the only one who felt off after the procedure. Sometimes I think they downplay how long it takes to feel “normal” again. Hope you’re feeling better these days.