Can You Avoid a Root Canal? — Kemptville Smiles Dentistry | Family & Cosmetic Dentistry in Kemptville, ON

Just seeing the words "root canal" may already trigger fear and anxiety. And you’ve probably heard stories from people saying how painful it can be. Plus, it may cost you a lot, and you may want to do everything possible just so you do not undergo a root canal procedure.

The good news is that you can actually avoid needing a root canal if you start taking good care of your teeth. With preventive care and proper dental care, you’ll no longer live with anxiety and think that you might need a root canal in the future.

So, the question now is, how do you take good care of your teeth?

Ways to Keep Your Teeth Healthy

Keeping your teeth healthy all the time requires commitment, effort, and practice. Even if you have a beautiful smile and have been told that you have white teeth, taking the right steps and adopting the right habits is still important for taking care of your teeth and preventing any dental problems. This involves the following:

Brush and floss. Brushing and flossing are simple yet effective ways of maintaining good oral health. When you brush your teeth daily, you keep your mouth clean and your whole body healthy. It also helps remove plaque that forms on your teeth. Remember that when plaque isn’t removed, it can lead to cavities and tooth decay.

Be sure that when you brush, you start with the outer surfaces of your teeth. Gently brush your teeth, and never miss any spots. It’s also important that you brush the inner surfaces and clean the chewing surfaces of your teeth. And last but not least, always brush your tongue. This is to remove the odor-causing bacteria and give you fresher breath.

Moreover, flossing your teeth daily is equally important. It is an oral hygiene habit that you should practice, as it cleans and dislodges trapped food in your teeth and removes plaque.

You can use traditional floss or a dental pick to properly clean your teeth. You can also try using an interdental brush to clean difficult-to-reach areas of your mouth. You might find flossing difficult at first, but don’t give up. You may look for flossing tools or dental flossers to help you reap the benefits of flossing.
Drink more water and eat mouth-healthy foods and drinks. When it comes to cleaning the mouth, drinking water is a sure and effective way to do so. It washes away leftover food and reduces the negative effects of acidic foods and beverages.

Additionally, water keeps the gums hydrated. And when your gums are hydrated, that prevents gingivitis from happening and lowers your cavity risk.

Simultaneously, when it comes to foods, eating fresh and crunchy fruits/vegetables, such as apples, celery, cucumbers, melons, and pears, is recommended. These fruits have high water content, which can help stimulate the flow of saliva. Keep in mind that your saliva helps prevent tooth decay and fight bacteria.
See a dentist at least twice a year. Your hygiene practices and habits are crucial to your oral health. Still, you should see a dentist regularly. Dentists can detect early signs of dental issues and provide appropriate treatment to prevent them from getting worse.

And above all, dentists can educate you on the proper oral hygiene techniques as well as make recommendations for maintaining good oral health.

Make Your Oral Health a Top Priority

Give your teeth the care they deserve. Your journey to a healthy smile starts here, at Kemptville Smiles Dentistry.