Totally relate to the “better safe than sorry” approach. I remember after my own root canal, I was so paranoid about messing up the healing that I basically treated my mouth like it was made of glass for a few days. Even though my dentist said suction from a straw wasn’t a big deal after a root canal (compared to an extraction), I just couldn’t bring myself to risk it. Honestly, sometimes peace of mind is worth more than convenience.
Your food lineup sounds almost identical to what I did—mashed potatoes, applesauce, yogurt, and ice cream made up like 90% of my diet that week. I got tired of soup too, especially since hot stuff made my mouth feel weird. Cold things felt way better, and I swear the ice cream was more for my soul than my teeth at that point.
I know some people bounce right back and eat normally pretty fast, but I always wonder if that’s just luck or if they’re pushing it a bit. My dentist was pretty relaxed about it, but I figured taking it slow wouldn’t hurt. The only thing I wish I’d known sooner was how annoying it is to get food stuck around the temporary filling—soft foods helped with that, but I still had to rinse gently after eating.
One thing that helped me was using those little baby spoons for the first couple of days. Sounds silly, but it kept me from accidentally shoving food onto the sore spot. Also, I avoided anything with seeds or tiny bits (like strawberries or granola) because they’re impossible to get out if they wedge in there.
It’s funny how much you start thinking about every bite when your mouth’s healing. Anyway, glad to hear your kid handled it well—sometimes being a little extra cautious just makes everything less stressful for everyone involved.
That baby spoon idea is genius—I wish I’d thought of that during my own recovery. I was so worried about chewing on the wrong side that I basically lived on instant mashed potatoes for days. It’s wild how cautious you get, but honestly, I’d rather be careful than regret it later. I also had the issue with food sneaking around the temp filling... ended up swishing with lukewarm salt water after every meal. Not glamorous, but it helped a ton.
Honestly, I get the temptation to live on mashed potatoes—soft foods are the MVP after a root canal. But I’d actually push back a bit on the salt water rinses after every meal. They can help, sure, but overdoing it might irritate the tissue or slow down healing if your gums are sensitive. Sometimes just gentle brushing (avoiding the sore spot) and a single rinse at night does the trick. Everyone’s mouth is a little different, though... trial and error seems to be the name of the game.
That’s interesting—I didn’t realize too much rinsing could actually slow things down. I’ve mostly stuck to gentle brushing and a nighttime rinse, but now I’m wondering... did anyone else get that weird taste in their mouth for a few days after? Wondering if that’s normal or just me.
did anyone else get that weird taste in their mouth for a few days after? Wondering if that’s normal or just me.
Yeah, I totally had that too—like a kind of metallic or chemical taste? It freaked me out at first but my dentist said it was pretty normal after a root canal. I think it’s just from the stuff they use to clean everything out. Mine lasted maybe three days, and then it faded. I was worried I’d messed something up by brushing too much or not enough, but turns out it just needed time.
Honestly, I was so anxious about every little thing after my procedure, but that taste didn’t end up meaning anything bad. If you’re not having pain or swelling, you’re probably fine. I kept second-guessing myself but it all healed up okay. Hang in there—it gets better pretty quick.