The most common dental treatment notorious for being painful is a root canal.

According to a survey, the majority of younger people would prefer to run a marathon or swim with sharks over a root canal treatment.

Usually, when a person has severely damaged teeth or cavity-infected teeth, a root canal is the only solution.

Root canal prevention is not that complicated for people who don't need a restoration treatment for tooth trauma or decay.

If you fear the idea of a root canal like many, you can save yourself by maintaining good oral health.

In this blog, you will find excellent tips on how to avoid root canal procedures.

Root Canal Treatment: What to Expect

Before we go on how to avoid root canal tips, let's discuss the procedure to know what happens in the treatment.

There is a tiny passageway, or canal, filled with pulp—a mixture of blood vessels, connective tissue, and nerves inside each tooth. 

The nerves and blood vessels in your jaw are connected to the core of your tooth through the root canal. It maintains the bond between your teeth and body. 

Your root canal's pulp may become inflamed or infected if it sustains trauma from tooth decay or a broken tooth.

So, for root canal prevention, you need to stop your teeth from reaching this phase.

In this state, the teeth can be quite sensitive and cause pain because the pulp is full of nerves. 

During root canal therapy, the dentists eliminate infection and remove damaged pulp.

The root canal's damaged or infected pulp cannot be fixed. The only way to fix it is to remove the pulp. 

To reach the root canal, which houses the injured pulp in your tooth, your dentist will drill a tiny hole in your impacted tooth during a root canal procedure. 

Subsequently, they eliminate the entire affected pulp and use a specific solution to clean the root canals of any leftover infection or debris. 

After that, a biocompatible plastic-live substance called Gutta-percha fills the pulp chamber and canals, preserving the shape of your tooth.

How Long Does a Root Canal Take?

The whole process normally takes a day or less to finish.

However, after the tooth is cleaned, the patient needs a frequent filling routine.

Based on the condition of the affected teeth, the number of appointments needed differs.

Signs that You Need a Root Canal

If you want to know how to avoid root canal procedures, there are a few signs to be aware of as they indicate the possibility of a root canal:

• Having cracked or chipped teeth

• Suffered tooth trauma

• Having deep cavities that may reach the core of the teeth

• Several treatments on the same teeth

• Pain while chewing or biting

• Sensitivity to food that is either hot or cold 

• Swelling in gums

• Gum colour changing from light to dark

• Foul-smelling breath

How Common Are Root Canal Treatments

In the United States, endodontists perform more than 40,000 root canal treatments every day on patients with diagnosed dental treatments.

Due to the high-tech instruments involved in the treatment, patients can now be comfortable as the results are consistent.

More importantly, the success rate of root canal treatments is 97%. So, statistically, there are fewer chances of a failed treatment.

What if a person is late in learning how to avoid root canal treatments?

Even if they go through the treatment, it is going to be painless as compared to the old root canal procedures. 

Also, the treatment ensures a radiant smile with instant ease in biting and chewing.

How to Avoid Root Canal: 8 Tips That Work 

With root canal prevention practices and being cautious, you can avoid it.

Some of the tips for how to avoid root canal treatment may be already in your preventive care.

1.Brushing and Flossing: Success Lies in Consistency 

The first tip on how to avoid root canal procedures is the most basic one. Everyone knows that for a healthy mouth, you need to aim to brush two times a day. 

If you have a proper brushing routine where you don't skip a day without brushing twice, then you can start brushing after eating food.

Sometimes, even after brushing more than once a day, the food particles don't wash away from your mouth. 

It prevents the residual food particles from producing bacteria, causing tooth decay. 

Also, for the same reason, flossing is important after meals. 

Therefore, brushing a good toothpaste and flossing play a part in root canal prevention.

2.Say No to Sticky, Sweet, And Hard Foods

If you are interested in integrating the how to avoid root canal tips in your daily, you need to bid farewell to some food items.

That includes the sticky and sweet foods that hang on your teeth for a long time.

Also, the hard ones that can crack your teeth as you bite them.

The thing with sticky food like candies is that they don't only accelerate the rate of decay but weaken your teeth.

Likewise, hard foods like nuts, seeds, apples, and many more can break your teeth, defeating the purpose of the root canal preventive steps.

3.Get a Customized Mouthguard

Those who partake in any type of sport can get trauma injuries easily on the field.

That doesn't mean that the how to avoid root canal tips encourage you to quit playing.

If you play a sport that can crack, break, or chip your teeth, you can speak to a dentist to make a mouthguard according to your mouth's structure.

Besides that, some people have the habit of unintentionally grinding their teeth while sleeping, known as Bruxism.

As it happens every time a person goes to bed, teeth grinding can damage the teeth, which may push the person toward a root canal.

In short, ignoring it may get you to the short end of the stick.

Read more: Sleep Apnea Mouth Guard: Everything You Need to Know

4.Be Mindful of What You Drink

Your oral health doesn't get destroyed overnight; irresponsible eating and drinking habits are to be blamed.

The overconsumption of citrus juices feeds the bacteria in your mouth, eroding the enamel.

As they weaken your teeth, staying away from them is vital for root canal prevention.

Sparkling or carbonated water can also be dangerous for your teeth. Besides that, a drink that contains Carbonic acid can ruin your precious smile.

In addition to that, wine and beer are also acidic. So, even if you drink occasionally, rinse your mouth after drinking to lower the acidity levels in your mouth.

The best tip for how to avoid root canal treatment and sustain good oral health is staying hydrated with water.

5.Water As the Natural Cavity Fighter 

This tip on how to avoid root can is surely a winner.

Drinking fluoride water naturally fights decay and strengthens your teeth. With every sip, drinking water serves as a line of defence for your mouth.

When you have a meal, the saliva supply in your mouth gets low, giving a chance for mouth bacteria to come into action.

To cut this risk, drink water whenever your mouth feels dry to keep your mouth cavity-free. 

6.Making Regular Dental Appointments 

Teeth problems do not appear suddenly. Although it can be challenging to identify the warning symptoms of decay on your own, your dentist is able to do so sooner than you are. 

Make sure to schedule routine cleanings and examinations so your dentist may detect any issues before they become serious enough to necessitate extractions, root canals, or dental implants.

Don't disregard dental pain if you do encounter it. 

Pain indicates a problem in your mouth, and if you don't treat it, it can get worse. 

If you experience pain, get your teeth checked out right once because you might eventually need far more extensive treatment.

7.Don't Ignore Cavities

If you detect cavities in your teeth, don't ignore them, even if it's just the onset.

Some people wait for cavities to go away on their own by relying on brushing and flossing.

If these cavities start to spread, it will eventually cause nerve damage. 

In that case, you will need a root canal treatment.

To fill the cavity, the dentist will take out the decay and replace it with different types of filling materials that last up to several years.

So, the choice is yours: take this advice on how to avoid root canal procedures and go for cavity filling for a few minutes or wait for the root canal treatment to become a reality.

8.Start Using a Tongue Scraper 

Using a tongue scraper allows you to clean your tongue even more completely. 

With the help of this instrument, which is composed of pliable, gentle plastic, you can gently scrape away the coating of mucus that covers your tongue, especially in the middle. 

To get rid of the bacteria, just give the scraper a quick wash in warm water after each tongue swipe. 

You might be scratching your tongue too hard if you notice discomfort. Therefore, make sure you clean gently and slowly.

Root Canal Treatment: Is it Useful?

You may have heard people say that removing a tooth is preferable to undergoing root canal therapy.

Preserving your original teeth is always the ideal course of action. 

Since no material can replicate the appearance or functionality of a real tooth, root canal therapy should always be taken into consideration.

Many people who have had root canal therapy last a lifetime, and endodontic treatment has a high success rate. 

When a tooth is taken, replacing it with a bridge or implant takes longer to heal and may include additional surgeries on nearby teeth and supporting tissue.

Also, there is a misconception that you don't need a root canal if the tooth doesn't hurt.

Even though a throbbing toothache is usually the first indication that a tooth needs a root canal, sometimes a tooth needs a root canal even when there is no pain. 

Endodontists are trained to test a tooth to determine whether the pulp has been harmed or infected. Also, they can perform an X-ray to determine that.

If so, the tooth must be saved via a root canal. 

Hence, remember that if you are following the tips on how to avoid root canal treatment and experience a toothache, be sure to consult an endodontist. 

FAQs 

How do you avoid root canal treatment with ayurveda?

If the infection hasn't spread to the pulp of the teeth, people can use a few herbs to get rid of tartar and infections. The herbs that are good for oral health include turmeric, Emblica officinalis, Triphala, lemon diluted in water, etc.

Will I suffer from pain after the procedure?

A few days after your treatment, you can experience some soreness or discomfort when biting down.

Can I find better treatment alternatives for a root canal?

The only option left to you, if you choose not to get a root canal, is either losing your teeth naturally or having your diseased or infected tooth pulled. 

Does the tooth die after a root canal procedure?

No, the treatment won't kill your teeth. After removing a severe cavity or infection, a root canal restores the tooth's original structure and function by sealing it.

Summary

By embracing these tips on how to avoid root canal procedures, you can fortify your oral health. Your mouth, diet, and overall well-being have an intricate connection. 

Hence, with root canal prevention practices, you are making an effort for your entire body.

This will potentially help in sidestepping dental treatments like root canals.

However, if the doctor tells you that a root canal is the best treatment for your specific issue, it's better to opt for it. 

To get the treatment without stressing the results, you need a competent dentist.

KWC Dental offers state-of-the-art dental services using the latest technology to deliver extraordinary care.