Totally relate to the cheek-biting thing... I once thought I was in the clear and tried eating chips. Big mistake—felt like I’d gone a round with my own jaw. Nitrous definitely helped me relax, but yeah, that numb mouth is sneaky.
That sneaky numbness really is something else. I just had my first root canal a couple weeks ago, and honestly, I was so nervous going in that I barely slept the night before. Nitrous was the only thing that got me through it—my heart was pounding right up until they put the mask on. It didn’t knock me out or anything, but it was like suddenly I could breathe again, if that makes sense.
But yeah, after the appointment, I totally underestimated how weird my mouth would feel. I kept poking at the side of my cheek with my tongue, thinking, “Is this even my face?” I tried drinking a smoothie and ended up dribbling half of it down my chin... not my finest moment. The dentist warned me about biting my cheek or lip, but I didn’t think it would actually happen. Turns out, chewing anything even remotely crunchy is a bad idea until that numbness is 100% gone. Chips are definitely off my list for a while.
It’s reassuring to hear I’m not the only one who had a rough time with the aftermath. The pain wasn’t as bad as I’d feared, but the whole numb-jaw thing made me feel like I was learning to eat all over again. Honestly, if I ever need another root canal, I’ll probably ask for nitrous again, but I’ll also be way more careful about what I try to eat afterward.
Glad you mentioned the cheek biting—makes me feel less ridiculous for having a puffy cheek for a couple days. Dental stuff is just so weirdly stressful, even when it goes well.
That numbness is wild, right? I remember after my own root canal, I tried to eat a granola bar way too soon—bad idea. Ended up with a sore cheek for days. Nitrous really does help take the edge off the nerves though. It’s underrated.
Yeah, that numbness is no joke. I tried to drink a smoothie after my root canal (figured it was “safe” food), and I still managed to dribble half of it down my shirt. Not my finest hour. Nitrous definitely helped me chill out though, even if I was worried about the extra cost at first. Honestly, I went back and forth about paying for it, but looking back, the peace of mind was worth every penny. Dental work already feels like highway robbery sometimes, so if something can make it less stressful, I say go for it.
I do wish more insurance plans covered nitrous, though. It’s not just a “luxury”—it actually made me less anxious and probably made the dentist’s job easier too. Anyway, lesson learned: soft foods only, and maybe invest in a bib next time...
Totally get what you mean about the cost—nitrous isn’t cheap, but the anxiety is just brutal for some of us. I’m going in for my first root canal soon and honestly, the fear is half about the pain and half about the whole experience. Did you feel groggy or weird after the nitrous wore off? I’m worried I’ll be out of it for hours.