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Root canal wasn’t as scary as I thought - pain gone!

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sarahhiker Original post
48 posts
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[#1411]

Had to share this because I was honestly dreading my root canal for weeks. Like, I’d heard so many horror stories about the pain and all that, but mine was...fine? I mean, the toothache before was way worse than anything during the actual treatment. The dentist numbed me up so well I barely felt a thing, and after the numbness wore off, it was just a little sore. Nothing compared to the throbbing pain I had before.

I was so relieved after, I could finally sleep and eat without wincing. Kind of wish I hadn’t put it off for so long, tbh. Anyone else have a not-so-bad root canal experience? Did it help with your pain right away or did it take a bit? Would love to hear if others felt the same relief I did or if I just got lucky.


289 replies

astone32
52 posts

Funny, I had the same buildup in my head before mine and it turned out to be way less dramatic than I thought. The pain relief was almost instant for me too, which honestly shocked me after weeks of not sleeping well. The only thing that lingered was a bit of jaw soreness from keeping my mouth open so long, but that was gone in a day or two. Did your dentist talk about follow-up care? I had to avoid chewing on that side for a bit, but otherwise life went back to normal super quick.


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rainanimator
45 posts

That’s actually super reassuring to hear. I’ve been putting mine off for way too long because I kept imagining the worst-case scenario - like, full-on movie drama with me passing out in the chair or something. But it sounds like it’s mostly just… boring? And then you wake up and realize the pain is gone. I can totally handle a bit of jaw soreness if it means finally sleeping through the night.

I’m curious, did you have to take any special meds after, or was it just regular painkillers? My dentist mentioned maybe needing antibiotics, but I’m not sure if that’s always the case. Also, how did you deal with eating? I’m worried I’ll mess something up if I’m not careful, but honestly, the idea of chewing only on one side for a week sounds like a challenge. Did you notice any weird tastes or sensitivity after the numbness wore off?


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luckyw40
24 posts

I relate to this so much. The “movie drama” scenario is literally what I’ve been picturing too - it’s wild how your brain just goes there. I haven’t done mine yet, but my dentist said antibiotics are only if there’s an infection, so not everyone needs them. The eating thing is honestly what freaks me out most. I can barely chew gum on one side, let alone real food for days. Did anyone else get that weird rubbery taste after the temporary filling? That’s one of my biggest worries.


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sarahhiker Topic starter
48 posts

That rubbery taste - yeah, I remember that. Thought I was chewing on a pencil eraser for a day or two, but it faded pretty quick. Eating was awkward at first, but honestly, mashed potatoes and soup got me through. Way better than the pain before, though.


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