Nosht
Post-operative

After Your Root Canal Treatment

Your root canal treatment is finished. Here is how to look after yourself, ease any soreness and protect your tooth from now on.

5 min read

Urgent help: who to contact

Call 999 or go to A&E now if you find it hard to breathe, swallow or speak, if swelling spreads to your neck, under your tongue or around your eye, or if you have signs of a severe allergic reaction (such as swollen lips, tongue or throat).

Contact your dental team if painkillers from a pharmacy or shop do not control severe pain, if you have a lot of swelling inside or outside your mouth, if your temperature is above 38°C, or if a temporary filling falls out. If you cannot reach them, call NHS 111.

What to Expect After Treatment

Root canal treatment cleans infection out of the inside of the tooth and its roots. It is normal to feel sore for a few days afterwards. This does not mean anything has gone wrong.

  • Tender tooth: the area around the tip of the root may feel tender when you bite or press on it (post-operative sensitivity). This happens to about 1 in 3 people after treatment. It usually settles within 2–7 days.
  • Mild aching: a dull ache in the jaw is common on the day of treatment and the day after. Painkillers from a pharmacy or shop work well for most people.
  • Temporary filling or dressing: if your treatment takes more than one appointment, your dental team will have put in a temporary filling. Avoid chewing on this side until your next appointment.
  • Numbness: this will wear off within 2–4 hours. Avoid hot food and drinks until all feeling has come back.

Pain and Tenderness

Some soreness after root canal treatment is expected. It is a sign that your body is healing, not a sign that the treatment has failed.

  • Paracetamol (adults): take 500mg to 1g (1 or 2 × 500mg tablets). Leave at least 4 hours between doses. Do not take more than 4g (8 × 500mg tablets) in 24 hours. If you weigh less than 50kg, you may need a lower dose. Ask a pharmacist.
  • Ibuprofen (adults): take 200mg to 400mg up to 3 times a day, with or after food. Leave at least 4 hours between doses. Do not take more than 1,200mg in 24 hours, unless your dentist or doctor has prescribed a different dose.
  • You can take paracetamol and ibuprofen at the same time, or spread them out through the day. Never take more than the daily maximum of either.
  • Do not take paracetamol with other medicines that contain paracetamol, unless your dental team or doctor has told you to. These include co-codamol, co-dydramol and cold and flu remedies. Taking both can cause an accidental overdose.
  • Check with a pharmacist, dentist or doctor before you take ibuprofen if you have asthma, have had a stomach ulcer, have heart, kidney or liver problems, take blood-thinning medicines, or are pregnant.
  • Children: use children's paracetamol or ibuprofen. Give the dose on the packet or leaflet for your child's age (and weight, if given). Ask a pharmacist if you are not sure. Ibuprofen may not be suitable if your child has asthma.
  • Start pain relief before the numbness wears off. Do not wait for pain to build.
  • For the first few days, avoid biting on the treated tooth. Chew on the other side if you can.
  • Tenderness when biting usually gets better within a week. If it is getting worse after 5–7 days, contact your dental team.

Looking After the Temporary Filling

If your treatment takes more than one visit, you will have a temporary filling between appointments. This filling is soft on purpose. It is not as strong as a permanent filling.

  • Avoid chewing hard or sticky foods on that side. They can loosen or crack the temporary filling.
  • If the temporary filling feels very high or uncomfortable, contact your dental team. They can adjust it.
  • If the temporary filling comes out, contact your dental team quickly. The tooth needs to be covered so germs cannot get back into the root canal.
  • It is normal for the temporary filling to wear down a little between appointments. A thin layer is usually still there, even if it feels different.

Your Permanent Filling or Crown: Why It Matters

Root canal treatment saves the tooth by removing infected tissue from inside it. But the tooth still needs a strong permanent filling or crown (restoration) to protect it for the long term.

  • Teeth that have had root canal treatment can become more brittle over time. A crown is usually advised to stop the tooth breaking. This is even more so for back teeth (molars and premolars).
  • Your dental team will talk with you about the best permanent restoration for your tooth at your next appointment.
  • Do not put off getting the permanent restoration. A tooth left with a temporary filling for too long may get infected again or break.

With a good permanent restoration and regular dental care, a tooth with root canal treatment can last many years, sometimes for life.

When to Contact Your Dental Team

Contact your dental team if you notice any of these:

  • Severe pain that painkillers from a pharmacy or shop do not control
  • Pain or tenderness that is getting worse after 5–7 days, instead of better
  • Swelling you can see inside your mouth (on the gum near the tooth) or outside on your face or jaw
  • A high temperature above 38°C
  • The temporary filling falls out completely
  • Your first symptoms come back (severe toothache, throbbing pain)
  • A rash or itching after taking a medicine you were prescribed

Call 999 or go to A&E now if you find it hard to breathe, swallow or speak, or if swelling spreads to your neck, under your tongue or around your eye. For other urgent problems, contact your dental practice. If it is closed, call NHS 111.

Also call 999 if your lips, tongue or throat swell. This can be a severe allergic reaction.

This leaflet is for general information only and does not replace professional dental advice. Your dental team will discuss your individual circumstances and any risks specific to you. Treatment outcomes vary between patients depending on individual circumstances.

Sources

Links checked 18 October 2026.

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