Poor oral hygiene and lack of regular dental checkups can sabotage the health of your teeth. Failure to brush your teeth properly can lead to oral infection, which can spread to the dental pulp. Infected or inflamed tooth pulp can be painful, and this is where you need to go for root canal therapy in San Antonio, TX to save your natural tooth. The good news is that there are ways to prevent your teeth from getting oral infections that require root canal treatment. Below, you'll find some of those tips and how to care for your tooth after undergoing treatment.

Preventing the Need for Root Canal Treatment: Tips for Good Oral Health

Before we can provide you with tips on how to prevent the need for root canal therapy, there are signs that indicate you require the treatment. It is crucial that you don't ignore these signs, as it is the only way to save your natural teeth. Some of the signs that you need root canal treatment include:

• Swelling and tenderness of the gums around the affected tooth.
• A chip, crack, or hole in your tooth.
• Swelling in your neck or face.
• Lesions or abscess form around the gum area surrounding the affected tooth.
• Extreme tooth sensitivity, especially when you take hot and cold foods and drinks.
• Discoloration or darkening of the tooth.
• Pain when you chew or apply any pressure to the affected tooth.

The good news is that you can avoid experiencing these symptoms by following the tips below. These tips include: Brushing and flossing are crucial- one of the main causes of a tooth pulp infection is cavities, where the bacteria in your mouth produce acids that erode your tooth enamel. The harmful bacteria combine with food debris creating acidity. Fortunately, if you brush your teeth twice and floss at least once daily, you can remove any remaining food particles left stuck between your teeth, preventing cavities. Get regular dental checkups- although brushing and flossing are essential, it can be challenging to remove plaque and tartar. The good news is that the dentist in San Antonio, TX, can perform dental cleaning and examination of your mouth to ensure that you don't have any cavities or oral problems. Avoid hard and sticky foods- sticky foods, especially sugary ones, can stay on your teeth longer than other foods. When they do, these foods combine with bacteria forming acids that erode the enamel. On the other hand, hard foods can stick between teeth when chewed and cause small cracks. These tiny cracks on your teeth provide an entry point for bacteria causing infection and decay. Be on the lookout for what you drink- you might have heard that sugary drinks are not good for your teeth. However, citrus juices and energy drinks can be as harmful as well. Citrus juices contain acids that can damage teeth, and the sugar in them feeds the bacteria, causing decay. Wear a mouthguard- other than tooth decay, tooth trauma may require visiting the dentist near you for a root canal. Why? When your tooth gets damaged, let's say during contact sports, the damage might reach the dental pulp, and the only way to save the tooth is through root canal therapy. You can prevent this by wearing a custom-fitted mouthguard to protect your teeth and soft tissues.

Caring for Your Tooth after a Root Canal: Post-Treatment Guidelines

Sometimes, root canal treatment can be the only sure way of saving your tooth. After the procedure, you need to take good care of your tooth. Some of the post-treatment guidelines that can help in your journey to recovery include: Be mindful of what you eat- your tooth will be a little sensitive after the treatment. Therefore, you need to be mindful of what you eat to prevent irritating the tooth. You should avoid foods like chips, nuts, fries or any crunch or hard foods that will put a lot of pressure on your tooth. Brushing and flossing remain essential- during this critical time, you need to ensure that your teeth and gums are clean. Failure to maintain proper oral hygiene can lead to reinfection. Check-in with your dentist- you should visit us at Comfort Dentistry for a checkup. Our dental professional will check on the healing progress and determine if any problem can affect it. Avoid putting pressure on the treated tooth- after a root canal, the tooth is sensitive. Therefore, you should chew on the opposite side for at least a day until the tooth becomes less sensitive.