As we get older suddenly we realised many things we didn't appreciate about being young - being fit, having smooth skin and having all your own teeth. As our loose teeth (and bridges) struggle to deal with chewier food we start eating bland mush and, there is no easy way to say this, OLD PEOPLE FOOD. I'm determined not to let that happen to me and I'm doing everything I can to keep my own teeth as long as possible, and when that's not possible to get the best possible teeth replacement. If you are like me and want to keep on eating whatever you want, I think you'll like my site. It's all about dental health and teeth replacement & maintenance.
Keeping your teeth young
What Is A Root Canal Procedure And Why Is It Important?
Mabel Hicks
A root canal is a procedure used to treat decaying or decayed teeth. If decaying teeth are left untreated, they might cause additional problems and severely damage the rest of your mouth.
What Causes Teeth To Decay?
Teeth decay because of bacteria, and bacteria act because of bad eating habits and poor oral health. Tooth decay is defined as the softening of the tooth enamel, which is the outer layer that covers the crown of the tooth. The crown is the visible part of the tooth.
One of the main causes of tooth decay is leftover carbohydrates in your mouth that are not properly cleaned by flossing and brushing. There is naturally occurring bacteria in your mouth that break down the carbohydrates, which causes the formation of acids. These acids eat away at the enamel of your tooth and also feed the bacteria, which causes even more acids to form. This is a chain reaction, which when left untreated can also damage the layer underneath the enamel, which is called the dentin, and eventually form cavities. These cavities then damage the nerve and pulp of the tooth, which requires their removal.
There are also major issues such as gastric reflux and bulimia that cause the increase in acidity in your mouth, that eventually cause the chain reaction mentioned before.
How Do You Know If You Need A Root Canal?
One of the main symptoms of tooth decay is oversensitivity. Because the nerve of the tooth is about to be uncovered, even contact with water will hurt. If the problem is severe, it might cause headaches as the nerves of your teeth are strongly related to your central nervous system.
How Does A Root Canal Work?
In simple words, a root canal is a procedure during which your dentist removes the pulp and nerve of the decaying tooth, seals it and fills it with materials such as porcelain, composite resins, silver or gold. If a damaged pulp is not removed, then the bacteria will break it down, multiply because it feeds on the remains of the pulp and eventually spread over to other teeth.
Can You Prevent It?
Tooth decay happens to everyone, youngsters and adults and this is why it is important to be careful about oral health. One of the most important things you need to do to maintain your oral health is regular check-ups at your dentist. He or she will advise you on how to prevent certain kinds of problems that might occur to your teeth, one of them being tooth decay. In the case that tooth decay may be occurring, your dentist will catch it early, fix the problem and prevent the further damage to your tooth. If caught early, you will not need to remove the pulp and the nerve of the tooth.
For more information on how to treat root canals, contact your local dental office today for an appointment.
Share