Mild pain or a feeling of pressure when chewing is normal in the first few days after root canal treatment. The tissue around the root tip was irritated and is settling down. Usually this eases within a few days, and after one to two weeks the tooth is calm. Until then, a painkiller from the pharmacy and going easy when chewing help. Get in touch if the pain gets stronger instead of weaker, if swelling appears or if the tooth still hurts after two weeks.
Updated: 9 November 2026
Why the tooth still reacts afterwards
During root canal treatment we remove the inflamed tissue inside the tooth. The tissue around the root tip stays, and it was often already irritated beforehand. The cleaning reaches right up to the root tip, which briefly irritates it once more. On top of that, the injection site can be a little sore for a day or two. Both are signs that your body is healing, not signs that something has gone wrong.
What is normal in the first few days
- a dull feeling of pressure or a slight throbbing, especially when biting down
- sensitivity when chewing on the treated side
- slightly irritated gum where the injection was given
- a noticeable improvement with every day
What helps
- A painkiller from the pharmacy eases the discomfort. Ask the pharmacist for advice, or ask us.
- Eat once the feeling has returned. While your lip and cheek are numb, wait before eating or having hot drinks. That way you will not bite or scald yourself.
- Chew on the other side, for the first few days and especially while the tooth only has a temporary seal. Nuts, hard crusts and boiled sweets are better left for later.
- Cooling from the outside helps many people: a cool pack wrapped in a cloth, for a few minutes, then a break.
When to get in touch with us
- The pain gets stronger instead of weaker after two or three days.
- Your cheek or gum swells, perhaps with a fever. Then ideally the same day.
- The tooth still hurts after two weeks.
- When you bite, the treated tooth touches first. Then the seal is often a fraction too high, and we adjust it in a few minutes.
- The temporary seal has fallen out or broken.
If the tooth flares up again months later
A tooth that has had root canal treatment can flare up again after months or years, for example if a canal was not cleaned completely or the seal has started to leak. Often it can be saved with a second treatment, the retreatment. Retreatments are a regular part of our work. Read more in “Root canal retreatment: when it is worth it”.
So that the tooth stays calm
A tooth that has had root canal treatment is often weakened. Until it has its final restoration, go easy on it when chewing. After that, we protect it with a ceramic partial crown or crown, depending on how much tooth remains. That way it lasts a long time and feels like a completely normal tooth.
