Do root canals hurt?
Last updated September 3, 2026.
During the procedure you should feel no pain: the tooth is fully numbed first. NHS guidance says you are given a local anaesthetic for root canal treatment, so you are awake but will not feel any pain. The reputation comes from the wrong end of the timeline: the infected tooth beforehand is what hurts, often badly, and treatment relieves it. Afterward, expect several hours of numbness and some soreness or swelling around the tooth that improves over a couple of weeks, controlled with paracetamol or ibuprofen. Anything beyond that pattern deserves a call to the practice.
What to do
- Say something mid-procedure if you feel pain; topping up the anaesthetic is routine.
- Stock paracetamol or ibuprofen for the first few days after.
- Do not chew on the tooth until the permanent filling or crown is in place.
- Call the practice for severe, worsening, or throbbing pain, swelling, or fever after treatment.
- Do not wait on toothache: the NHS says see a dentist if it lasts more than 2 days.
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