How to Avoid a Root Canal

Caring for your teeth is one of the best ways you can maintain your overall health. A healthy smile is important not just for aesthetic purposes, but also to enable you to chew, speak, and function in your everyday life.

When teeth are damaged and begin to decay, it leads to tremendous pain. Nerves and blood vessels are affected, and the pain can make you feel terrible. All of this can be avoided with proper dental care. If you find yourself in the situation where a tooth has advanced decay and requires are root canal, there is no better place to receive care than at Pasadena Smile Center.

What is a Root Canal?

As a tooth becomes infected, infection penetrates past the tooth enamel into deeper layer of the tooth, the dentin. As the infection progresses and inflammation advances, the infection eventually reaches the root nerve of the tooth. By the time the infection has reached this phase, damage to the tooth structure is irreversible. As the nerve of the tooth begins to die, you will experience increased pain and swelling.

A root canal is a dental procedure designed to treat and save severely damaged or infected teeth. A root canal includes removing the soft inner layer of the tooth including any affected nerve tissue. Once that step is performed, the inside of the tooth is cleaned to be sure it is free from bacteria, filled, and sealed in order to safeguard against further damage or decay.

How Does Tooth Decay Begin?

A healthy tooth has a hard outer shell that protects it from damage from chewing, acids in foods, and other damage. This shell is called enamel. Just under the enamel is a softer layer called dentin. This part of the tooth is “alive.”

When your teeth are exposed to sugars or acids, those compounds attack the outer layer of enamel and can leave a chalky-looking white spot. If left untreated, the enamel will begin to decay, leaving the dentin exposed. From here, decay and infection can spread to the inside chamber of the tooth where soft tissue, nerves, and blood vessels are found.

How to Avoid Needing a Root Canal

Good oral hygiene is essential in ensuring your teeth do not sustain damage or begin to decay. Here are a few things you can do to ensure the ongoing health of your teeth and gums to avoid a root canal:

• Brush your teeth carefully with a soft tooth brush at least twice each day. Brushing your teeth for at least two minutes is necessary to ensure you thoroughly clean all surfaces.
• Floss your teeth at least once per day (if not more). Flossing allows you to get into hard-to-reach places that cannot be reached by brushing alone.
• An apple a day? Eating crunchy fruits and vegetables provides additional friction against your teeth. The fiber in these foods acts as an abrading agent against your teeth, sweeping away plaque and food particles.
• Follow the recommended schedule for professional cleanings and checkups. Allowing a dental professional to maintain your teeth is imperative in keeping your mouth healthy.
• Don’t ignore problems. If you find you have pain, infections, toothaches, or other dental problems, it is never a good idea to ignore them. Contact your dentist immediately to make sure everything inside your mouth remains as healthy as possible.

Pasadena Smile Center for Dental Care

At the Pasadena Smile Center, we recognize that each patient is unique. Our dentists strive to combine the best oral care you can find in Pasadena with a friendly, welcoming environment where patients of all ages feel comfortable and cared for. Schedule a consultation today with arguably the best dentist in Pasadena, CA.