I Never Want a Root Canal: What Can I Do to Avoid One?

You’ve likely known family or friends who have needed root canals. While this procedure might sound painful, modern dentistry eliminates the discomfort long associated with it. 

At Preva Dental in San Antonio, Texas, Prathima Rasamsetty, DDS, leads our team in offering  root canals for many patients. We can help alleviate your fears about the procedure. 

When are root canals necessary? 

Dentists perform root canals when the inner substance of your tooth, called the pulp, becomes infected or inflamed. For example, if your tooth is cracked and bacteria has seeped inside to the pulp, it is infected. Alternatively, if your tooth has significant decay, it may be infected, causing painful inflammation. 

A root canal saves your tooth. You may need a crown, but you avoid having to get an implant. 

Don’t worry about having pain from a root canal procedure. The most pain you’ll feel occurs before you have a root canal when your tooth is infected. Your gums may be swollen, your tooth hurts so that you can’t concentrate, and it may be extremely sensitive to touch or hot and cold. 

Having a root canal today is similar to having a cavity filled. We numb the area around your tooth to prevent discomfort during the procedure. 

The root canal eases the pain. You’ll experience relief soon after the procedure. Although you may have some discomfort for a few hours afterward, it can be easily remedied with over-the-counter pain relievers. 

How to avoid root canals

Following are tips to keep your teeth in great condition so you don’t need a root canal.

Brush your teeth twice and floss once every day

Taking care of your teeth daily helps prevent decay resulting in a root canal. Brushing and flossing are an unshakable part of your everyday routine, followed by using mouthwash. 

Brushing is only half of the job needed to keep decay at bay. Flossing is just as important. It removes particles of food left between the teeth and around the gumline. Experts recommend flossing before brushing. 

Clean your tongue

Your tongue contains tons of bacteria that can migrate to your teeth and gums. The bacteria also cause bad breath. Some types of bacteria can even cause oral cancer. Brushing your tongue helps reduce the toxins in your mouth and throat. 

Stay hydrated 

Keep a reusable water bottle handy and drink water often. Proper hydration helps increase saliva in your mouth. Saliva is your body’s natural tooth cleanser, removing food particles from your teeth. It also counteracts the acids formed by bacteria in your mouth that can cause tooth decay and helps protect your tooth enamel. 

If you have dry mouth, it’s especially important to use over-the-counter remedies to counteract it and to drink water frequently.

Change your beverage choices 

You likely understand that eating sweets like candies and cakes can lead to cavities. You may not realize that drinking sweetened carbonated beverages and sweet citrus juices can damage your tooth enamel. Drinking water and unsweetened beverages are better choices. Tap water usually contains fluoride; bottled water may not. 

Use fluoride toothpaste and/or mouthwash 

Using fluoride toothpaste and/or mouthwash helps to protect your tooth enamel. Fluoride provides your teeth with the necessary minerals to keep them healthy. 

Avoid chewing ice and hard foods

Do you ever bite down on ice? Try to break that habit. It can lead to a crack in your tooth that allows bacteria to bury in the tooth pulp. 

Keep regular dental appointments 

Even regular brushing and flossing can’t remove all of the harmful bacteria from the foods you eat. Plaque that you can’t remove becomes a hard substance called tartar. Only a dental professional has the tools and expertise needed to remove the tartar that builds up between visits to the dentist. 

Call Preva Dental today for all of your dental needs. We help keep your smile bright and white.