How Daily Tooth Care or a Root Canal at Ridgefield Can Prevent Tooth Loss

Sometimes tooth problems happen. However, there are preventive measures you can take to lower your risk. What better time to talk about those than May, also known as National Save Your Tooth Month? With these tips for a healthy mouth, you can preserve your natural teeth for as long as possible. If action is needed, though, you may need a root canal at Ridgefield to save your tooth and avoid expensive implants or dentures.

4 Habits to Help Preserve Your Natural Teeth

By practicing these preventive oral health habits, you can keep your natural smile for a long time! Here are 4 tips to keep your smile looking and feeling beautiful:

1. Brush and floss regularly. Brush your teeth twice a day for a full two minutes each time and floss every day before bed. Make sure to thoroughly address each side of the tooth, as well as the chewing surfaces.
2. Visit your dentist in Ridgefield every six months. Regular checkups are the best way to spot oral health problems early enough to treat them. For example, catching a small cavity can help save your tooth before it gets too damaged.
3. Avoid tobacco. Tobacco use can increase your risk of acquiring oral health problems such as gum disease and oral cancer. It can also stain your teeth by wearing down the top layer of enamel.
4. Limit sugary foods. Sugar is one of the biggest contributors to tooth decay. Cutting back on sugar intake can help you preserve your natural teeth for much longer.

What Happens When My Natural Teeth Are Damaged?

Sometimes dental damage happens even when you follow all of these preventive care tips. In that case, it’s important that you call your dentist as soon as possible to figure out a course of action.

If you are experiencing severe pain, it could be the result of decay or an infection reaching the inner area of your tooth where pulp and nerve tissue sit. The best treatment would then be root canal therapy.

The myth that root canals are scary and painful is just that – a myth. In fact, it helps relieve pain and can save your natural tooth.

What Is Root Canal Therapy?

Root canal therapy is when your dentist administers a local anesthetic, creates a small hole in the crown of your tooth, and clears away infected tissue in the root canal. This is followed by irrigation to clear away infected tissue and make room for gutta percha placement. Gutta percha is a rubbery material designed to replace tissue lost and lower the risk of infection in the future. Finally, your dentist will seal your tooth with a temporary crown while a permanent crown is made and installed a few weeks later.

You may be sore for a couple days after the root canal, but the process itself is completely painless! The local anesthetic will numb you up so that you will barely feel anything during the procedure. Once the permanent crown is placed, your natural tooth is protected for years to come! By practicing good oral hygiene habits and contacting your dentist immediately about any problems, you can make every month Save Your Tooth Month!

About the Practice

At Ridgefield Perfect Smile Center, Drs. Dana Jones and Josephine Franzese emphasize patient education. They will work with a patient to make sure he or she understands any needed procedures, and how to prevent future dental problems by practicing great oral hygiene. For further questions on preserving your smile, contact the doctors here or call them at (203)-438-8919.