When you hear "root canal procedure," you are probably like most other adults; cringing in fear and hoping to avoid it. Avoiding it when it is needed would be an all-around bad idea, because the dentist is attempting to save the remaining living part of the affected tooth before it dies completely. In fact, you probably have more pain now than you will during the procedure or even after the procedure is complete. Still, if you are really worried about the pain, the following four ways to reduce it before, during, and after the procedure should help.

Ice, Ice Baby

Ice your jaw for ten minutes every time your affected tooth begins to hurt. The ice pack will help slow blood flow to the area and help numb it up. After the root canal is complete, use ice yet again for the same reason. It is a very useful, safe, and drug-free way to control pain.

NSAIDS (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs)

These are your usual, run-of-the-mill, over-the-counter pain relievers, but you have to make sure the label is clearly marked "NSAIDS." Other pain relievers, such as aspirin, thin the blood and could cause heavy bleeding during your endodontic procedure. (This is why dentists are very explicit about the types of pain relievers they allow you to take.) If you are not sure that your usual headache/body ache medicine is an NSAIDS, ask your pharmacist. Better yet, ask your endodontist or dentist which one medicine they recommends for managing pain through all three stages of this procedure.

Meditation

Masters of meditation, such as yogis and birthing doulas, know that meditation helps relax the body and prevent excessive pain. If you are not a practitioner of meditation, you could still try this. Meditation would relax your neck, shoulder, facial, and oral muscles. Then the pain that you do experience is less than it might have been if you were already very tense. This practice can give you something else to focus on while the dentist/endodontist is busy working.

Sleep

When you are sound asleep, you do not feel pain and/or you process it differently. If you can, sleep more than you usually do before and after the root canal. Sleeping more before the root canal helps you get through any pain you are feeling then, while sleeping more after the procedure will help you get past the initial pain until your tooth and gum tissue has fully healed. Extra rest will also help you heal faster.

For more information, contact local professionals like Renovo Endodontic Studio.