What do I do following my treatment?

Extractions

The most important things are to keep the site clean and don't lose the blood clot:

Keep firm biting pressure on the gauze for at least an hour.
NO rinsing, spitting, or drinking from a straw for the first 24 hours (these actions can disturb the clot)
Liquids only. Coffee, tea, and soup are all fine so long as they are not too hot!
You CAN brush your teeth, but don't rinse or spit
Cold compresses can help reduce swelling and pain
Take pain medication before the anaesthesia ("freezing") wears off

After the first 24 hours:

soft foods ONLY, and nothing that could get stuck in the empty socket
Warm salt water rinses are fine; your dentist may also give you a special mouth rinse to use
NO SMOKING for a minimum of three days. Smoking significantly increases your risk of infection and pain

It is important to attend any follow-up visits your dentist has booked for you.

Root Canals

Take pain medication before the anaesthesia ("freezing") wears off.
Take any medications your dentist has prescribed for you
No hard or tough foods for the next couple days
In most cases, a full-coverage crown is recommended to protect the tooth from breaking