What Is a Root Canal?
It is an endodontic procedure that treats the inner layers of teeth to avoid tooth extractions. Root canals help save teeth by removing damaged soft tissues and filling the tooth with special material to keep the structure intact.
Why Are Root Canals Necessary?
A dentist in Liberty Hill will not always recommend a root canal procedure. Ideally, endodontic procedures are necessary when there is a chance to save a natural tooth. Therefore, instead of a tooth extraction, the dentist will treat the insides of your tooth to restore it. Some of the instances where root canals therapy in Liberty Hill, TX, are necessary are:
- Tooth fractures – a broken or cracked tooth can necessitate a root canal procedure. Although the damage will impact the external aspect of your tooth, it can inflame or damage the nerve endings inside. Still, not all tooth fractures require root canal treatment.
- Tooth decay – the most common reason for a root canal procedure in dentistry is dental decay. A cavity allows bacteria to infect the inner layers of teeth. A dental filling will not suffice for treating the tooth if the damage is extensive enough. Instead, the dentist will perform a root canal procedure before installing a dental filling.
- Abscessed tooth – occurs when the infection spreads to tooth roots, forming an abscess at the gum line. It features pus and other fluids that accumulate at the base of a tooth due to infection.
10 Tips to Avoid a Root Canal
Since root canals are restorative treatments, they are unnecessary if you have healthy teeth. Therefore, there are proactive measures you can take to prevent the need for a root canal treatment. If you are looking for tips on how to avoid a root canal naturally, consider the following ten:
- Keep your mouth clean – brushing twice daily is a rule of thumb for excellent oral health. If you skip brushing your teeth, you allow food residues to mix with saliva and acids and form plaque. Plaque is among the leading causes of dental decay that necessitates root canal treatments. Besides teeth brushing, floss your teeth daily to remove food residue and plaque between teeth.
- Eat healthily – your food choices directly impact your teeth’ health. Sugary and acidic foods damage teeth enamel, resulting in dental cavities. If you must avoid root canal therapy, insist on taking healthy meals, including fruits and vegetables.
- Visit your dentist regularly – showing up in our dental offices at Prime Dental of Liberty Hill every six months is a great way to avoid root canals. The dental visits allow a dentist to evaluate and clean your oral cavity to benefit your hygiene and better your oral health. Besides, a dentist in Liberty Hill will quickly detect any anomalies pointing to the early stages of cavity development and mitigate them sooner than later.
- Avoid hard and crunchy foods – they can easily crack or break your teeth, leading to a deep tooth fracture that may need an endodontic procedure.
- Seek treatment for bruxism – a condition featuring excessive teeth grinding. Grinding your teeth at night weakens your teeth’ enamel. Aside from heightening teeth sensitivity, weak teeth enamel can translate to cracked and broken teeth, all of which may require root canal therapy.
- Wear a mouth protector – if you indulge in intense physical activities, protect your teeth with a mouthguard. The stakes are higher if you are in high-contact sports like football.
- Be intentional about fluoride intake – fluoride is a natural mineral that helps builds strong teeth while increasing their resistance to dental cavities. Therefore, ensuring you have an adequate intake of fluoride helps preserve your teeth’ enamel to avoid root canals. Consider getting routine fluoride treatments at least twice annually.
- Quit bad oral habits – particularly those involving biting hard non-food items. Examples include biting fingernails, chewing pens, and opening lids with your teeth.
- Get dental fillings early – tooth fillings seal the chewing surfaces of teeth to either treat dental cavities or prevent them. If you detect cavities early, treat them with dental fillings. Otherwise, consider getting dental sealants to fill your teeth proactively.
- Do not ignore dental pain – seek treatment as soon as you experience any dental pain. Ignoring it may allow infections to brew long enough for you to require a root canal procedure.