Just had my first root canal yesterday and man, my jaw feels like it went ten rounds in a boxing match. Been popping ibuprofen and trying to eat soft stuff, but still pretty sore. Anyone else been through this? How long til it feels normal again?
Yep, been there. Root canals are no joke...felt like my jaw was locked shut for days after mine. Are you icing it at all? Ice packs helped me a ton, especially the day or two right after. Took around 4-5 days before I felt normal enough to chew without wincing—hang in there, it does get better. Until then, pudding and mashed potatoes are your best friends.
Root canals...ugh, been through a few myself. Ice packs are great, but honestly, ibuprofen was my real MVP. Kept me sane enough to binge-watch old sitcoms without wanting to throw the remote at the TV. Also, pudding and mashed potatoes are fine, but don't underestimate scrambled eggs—they're soft enough to swallow without chewing and actually fill you up. Trust me, after day three of pudding, you'll be dreaming about anything savory.
And pro tip: avoid watching cooking shows while you're stuck eating mushy food. Learned that one the hard way—nothing worse than drooling over a steak when your jaw feels like it's welded shut. Hang tight though, it'll pass quicker than you think...and soon you'll be back to chomping popcorn kernels like a champ (though your dentist might not approve).
"Trust me, after day three of pudding, you'll be dreaming about anything savory."
Couldn't agree more—after my root canal, I survived on lukewarm soups and smoothies. Honestly, blending up some hearty soups saved my sanity...and taste buds. Scrambled eggs sound like a solid tip though, wish I'd thought of that earlier.
Reading through everyone's experiences here makes me feel a bit better about my upcoming root canal. I've always been anxious about dental stuff—just the thought of it gives me chills—but hearing how you all managed afterward helps. The pudding and smoothies sound doable, but I think I'll definitely try blending soups too. Warm foods always seem comforting when I'm feeling lousy.
I remember when I had braces tightened, scrambled eggs were pretty much my go-to meal for days. Easy to chew and filling enough to keep me from getting cranky. I'll probably stock up on eggs again for this procedure. Honestly, the anticipation is probably worse than the actual recovery...at least that's what I'm telling myself right now. Fingers crossed it won't be as rough as I'm imagining.
