Root canals are a very painful dental surgery that leaves your gums raw and sensitive. While you still have to eat, you must take care so as not to exacerbate the pain or create other health issues in your mouth. And this is never more poignant when it comes to foods like pizza. So if you’re wondering can I eat piazza after a root canal?
No, at least not the same day. While there are a few exceptions to this rule, you should wait until the pain subsides in about three days to a week. Even then, only consume pizza with a soft crust.
Of course, this will depend on how your mouth feels after the root canal. You may be able to eat pizza in the same day if the pain isn’t severe and you use a fork. However, always follow your dentist’s advice and avoid pizza until your mouth heals.
Avoiding Pizza after a Root Canal
Within the first few days of a root canal, you should avoid eating any kind of pizza. Too many variables could increase pain or cause an infection. Pizza burgeons with melted cheese atop a crispy, crunchy crust that comes piping hot. All of these elements aren’t conducive to proper healing.
Also, cheese can dry out your wound and extreme heat can cause your gums to throb in pain. Anything crunchy on the pizza, including the crust, can cut your gums and tear out the sutures. All of these elements increase the chances for an infection to take hold, which will not only be excruciating but it will also take you mouth longer to heal.
What to Eat After a Root Canal
For the first few days after a root canal, your foods should be soft with little risk of causing yourself more hardship. This means you should eat things like:
- Yogurt
- Sour Cream
- Cream Cheese
- Soft Fruits (without seeds or hardness: bananas, peaches, apricots, plums, mangoes, pitted cherries and etc; no berries)
- Mashed Vegetables (carrots, cauliflower or potatoes)
- Pudding (without chewy additions)
- Soup (no hard, crunchy or chewy ingredients in it)
- Rice
- Milkshakes
- Sushi
- Pancakes
- Pasta
- Macaroni and Cheese
- Hummus
- Ice Cream (no chips or hard pieces)
So, as you can see above, asking “can I eat pizza after a root canal?” is not a good idea. Truly, the foods should not cause you pain or present a risk of infection to that area of your mouth. It shouldn’t be crunchy, chewy or sticky; it’s the best way to prevent any unwanted mishaps.
How to Eat Pizza after a Root Canal
If you’re still on the bandwagon of “can I eat pizza after a root canal,” then there are some other factors to consider. First, assess how that particular area of your mouth feels. If it’s very painful, sore and tender, then you should not attempt to eat pizza.
But, if you’re okay and there isn’t really any sensitivity at all, you can try it. Consider the five steps below and devise your own plan of action. However, please note you are eating pizza after a root canal at your own risk and peril. This is because, even if it does feel fine, you can still contract an infection.
1. Type of Pizza Matters
If you’re going to eat some pizza after a root canal, then make sure your pizza crust is soft with little to no crunch to it at all; the doughier the better. Also, avoid too many toppings and stick with just cheese. Don’t order anything with a crispy protein like pepperoni or bacon.
In the event you can’t find a pizza like this in your area, you may want to consider making the pizza yourself. This way, you can ensure the crust’s softness that will be optimal for your mouth.
2. Before Eating
When you get a slice of delicious pizza in front of you, wait until it cools down to just above room temperature. This will prevent further injury to the root canal area due to high heat and sticky cheese.
Also, make sure you have a nice cool glass of water nearby. If at any point your root canal hurts or the pizza isn’t cool enough, you can drink some to help things along.
3. Use a Fork And Knife
It may seem hoity and snobbish, but you are going to have to use a fork and knife to cut your pizza into tiny bite-sized pieces. This includes any toppings that are larger than what your mouth can handle. For instance, large chunks of sausage, onions or green peppers might be too big.
4. Chewing
Then, with your fork, place a piece in your mouth but take care to avoid the area of the root canal. Once you have it in a secure spot, gently remove the fork from your mouth and begin to chew slowly. Do not switch between both sides of your mouth and be mindful of how you eat the pizza.
5. Evaluate
After every few bites, evaluate how your mouth feels. Take a break if you have to in the event you experience any pain. If at any time you experience soreness from chewing, stop eating the pizza and wait for a moment. If the sensation subsides, then continue eating. However, if the pain increases exponentially, stop eating the pizza altogether and call your dentist right away.
Conclusion
As a definitive for, “Can I eat pizza after a root canal?” Technically, you shouldn’t eat pizza for the first three days to a week. The only exception here is if your mouth doesn’t hurt. If you choose to eat pizza immediately after the root canal, it is crucial that you be extra careful about how you eat it.
This means cutting your pizza into tiny bites and eating it slowly. If you’re very deliberate about it, you should be fine. But, when you begin to experience any kind of pain, stop eating the pizza immediately.
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