Root Canal Treatment Can Help Preserve Your Teeth
Today is National Root Canal Appreciation Day!
Why do we appreciate root canals? Root canals save people's teeth by clearing infections and preventing new diseases. A root canal is a treatment of the pulp of the tooth that is inflamed, infected, or dead. The dental pulp is a soft substance in the tooth’s center that consists of the nerve, blood vessels, and connective tissue. Here are some signs you may need a root canal: severe tooth pain, prolonged sensitivity, tooth discoloration, gum swelling, and recurrent pimples on the gum.
We want to remind our patients how life-saving this most common but misunderstood dental procedure is. Fun fact: over 15 million root canals are performed every year in the US! That’s many teeth to save! Root canal treatment is designed to eliminate bacteria from the infected root canal, prevent reinfection of the tooth and protect the natural tooth. When one undergoes a root canal, the inflamed or infected pulp is removed, and the inside of the tooth is carefully cleaned and disinfected, then filled and sealed. Overall, the treatment should feel no different from having an ordinary filling placed. What makes root canals so important is that if tooth infections are left unaddressed, they can spread throughout the body.
This treatment can help preserve your teeth.
However, there are plenty of ways to avoid needing a root canal in the first place!
Brushing and flossing are the BEST ways to maintain healthy teeth and keep root-damaging bacteria out of your mouth by preventing decay.
Avoid sticky or hard foods that contain much sugar; these foods feed the bacteria that cause tooth decay.
Get regular checkups so we can catch problems early on before they develop into more severe issues.
Visit a dentist and save your tooth!
For more information about root canal treatment and dental health, please call one of our dental offices in Somerville or Cambridge, MA, or book online.
