How to Prevent Root Canals

If you’ve ever had a cavity, root canal or any issue with your teeth then you know that the discomfort won’t go away until you get it treated. You can’t walk off an exposed nerve or rest a decayed tooth. You have to get them treated by a dentist or specialist before the problem is resolved. Most people don’t go to the dentist until a problem occurs which causes more harm to the teeth. However, many dental treatments like root canals can be prevented if people took care of their teeth just a little bit better.

What is a Root Canal?

root canal, tips to preventA root canal is a procedure done to repair a tooth that has become badly decayed to the point that the nerve has to removed. The dentist cleans out the tooth, removes the infected nerve that is causing you pain and then seals the area up. Although people say getting a root canal is painful the real discomfort is experienced before hand from the pain of the exposed nerve.

Here are signs to look out for if you think you need a root canal:

  • Severe discomfort when biting down
  • Extreme tooth sensitivity
  • Swollen gums
  • tooth discoloration

If you are experiencing severe pain and tooth discomfort you need to see a dentist. No amount of pain medication will fix a decayed tooth. If you want to prevent ever having to get a root canal there are a couple of things you can do.

  1. Make sure that you aren’t grinding your teeth at night which can also cause nerve damage.
  2. First protect your teeth in the best possible way by brushing thoroughly and flossing regularly.
  3. Get regular dental checkups so your dentist can keep your teeth healthy and fix anything before it becomes too serious.
  4. Limit foods that contain excess sugar or starch from your diet. These foods adhere to your teeth creating plaque build up which will decay your teeth.

If you need of a root canal or have any questions regarding your teeth, contact Greenspoint Dental. We would love to help you out with any of your dental concerns..