What You Should Eat After a Root Canal — Plus Some Foods to Avoid

A root canal is a relatively painless and routine dental procedure. But it can still be scary not knowing what to expect and how to care for your mouth afterwards. One important aspect is knowing when and what to eat after a root canal. Let’s take a closer look at the foods you should eat and the foods you should avoid after a root canal, so you can have a smooth recovery.  

What is a root canal?

In a root canal, your dentist carefully removes infected nerve tissue from your tooth and replaces it with a permanent filling material. Your tooth is then sealed up and brought back to its normal function with a dental crown. This multistep procedure helps restore the health of your tooth. When successful, this prevents your tooth from being pulled or extracted. The tooth will still thrive inside of your mouth after a root canal due to the continued nourishment of tissue surrounding it.

You might need a root canal when the pulp layer of your tooth becomes irritated or infected. This layer is where you have most of the blood vessels and nerves for your tooth. A large cavity or crack that infiltrates the nerve tissue can cause inflammation or infection in the tooth.

How long after a root canal can you eat?

After a root canal, you’ll need to wait until the anesthesia in your mouth has worn off before you try to eat. The numbness from the anesthesia may last for 2 to 3 hours after your root canal procedure. Waiting for the sensation in your mouth to return will keep you from accidentally biting the insides of your mouth, and prevent any accidental trauma.

Once you’re ready to eat after your root canal, make sure to keep these things in mind:

• Eat slowly. 

• Eat on the opposite side of the root canal.

• Avoid hot foods or beverages to prevent burns.

What’s the best thing to eat after a root canal?

Most people are safe to eat soft foods after the numbness has worn off. Remember, chewing anything with the tooth that was treated may cause sensitivity for quite some time. Until the area has healed, you’ll want to stick to foods that don’t require much chewing. 

In the meantime, you can use these lists to help build meals that are safe to eat after a root canal.

Proteins

Protein is helpful to promote wound healing. Some good sources of soft foods high in protein include:

• Eggs

• Meatloaf

• Tofu

• Legumes like beans, lentils, and split peas

• Canned tuna or chicken

• Hummus

• Creamy nut butters

• Boneless fish filets

Grains and starches

Grains and starches are nutrient-dense foods that are good sources of energy, vitamins, and fiber. Soft grains and starches to eat after a root canal can include:

• Mashed potatoes

• Cooked cereal like cream of wheat

• Soft noodles

• Oatmeal

• Couscous

• Quinoa

• Polenta

Fruits and vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins and minerals that support wound healing. After your root canal you can eat fruits and vegetables like:

• Applesauce

• Smoothies 

• Pureed squash

• Bananas

• Mangos

• Avocado

• Cooked carrots

• Green beans

Dairy

Dairy is a good source of fat— which can help speed wound healing. Foods rich in dairy that you can eat after your root canal include:

• Cottage cheese

• Yogurt

• Pudding

• Macaroni and cheese

• Milkshakes

What to avoid after a root canal

In general, you want to avoid anything that may harm the newly treated tooth or cause additional inflammation. This means you’ll want to avoid foods that are spicy, hard, sticky, acidic, or crunchy for the first few days after your root canal. This includes foods like: 

• Chips, nuts, and pretzels

• Chewing gum, candy, and caramel

• Oranges and lemons

• Buffalo wings or any food with hot sauce

• Celery or raw vegetables

• Chewy meats like steak

How long does it take to heal from a root canal?

In most cases, people tend to heal within a week or two after the procedure. It takes time for your immune system to fully eliminate the infection. Pain and sensitivity after the procedure is usually treated with over-the-counter pain medication. If you were prescribed any antibiotics for your tooth, it’s important to finish your medication. It will help your healing process. 

Keep in mind that your sensitivity should get better each day after your root canal. If swelling gets worse or pain continues after 2 weeks, contact your dentist and schedule a follow-up exam. They can examine you to see if your healing is on track or if you need additional treatment. 

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Written by:

Zack Youngblood, DMD

Zack Youngblood, DMD, is a dentist who strives to change the general look of dentistry. Before stepping foot in the clinical field, he authored multiple works that helped dental students and dentists find their unique path in dentistry.

Edited by:

Karla Robinson, MD

Karla Robinson, MD, is a medical editor for GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified family physician with almost 20 years of experience in health through varied clinical, administrative, and educational roles.

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