Your Tarzana dentist knows the intricacies involved with root canals and the fact that most people would prefer not to have them. Still, it needs to be pointed out that around 15 million root canals are performed every year. That is a lot of root canals in just one year, which is the reason your Tarzana and Reseda dentist wants you to do your best to prevent it before it happens.

What is a Root Canal Infection?

This refers to an infection that affects the nerve and pulp tissue of the tooth. The infection is near the center of a cavity, which is right at the root canal. This infection needs to be treated, or it will end up digging into your root and bone, which can lead to tooth loss, just to name one possible outcome.

The procedure involves removing the infection before it reaches critical areas, cleaning the tooth, and sealing it up with a filling or crown, which requires an experienced Tarzana dentist.

How to Prevent This Infection?

To try to prevent this type of infection, one must get to the root of the problem, which boils down to decay--though not always. Tooth decay happens when bacteria are able to break through the tooth's enamel and dentin. These are layers of protection that your teeth use to fight off pathogens. These oral pathogens are able to reach the delicate areas of your teeth, which are near the center and by the root canal. One way that tooth decay develops is through plaque or tartar. Tartar is the mineralized version of plaque, which is bacteria that forms on the surface of your teeth. There, they continue to eat away at your teeth as you feed them by eating processed sugars and starches. This means one way to avoid this problem is to avoid processed sugars and starches.

You should also know that going to your local dentist in Tarzana regularly is also a good idea. Your dentist can perform a cleaning should there be any plaque or use technology, such as sonic sound-wave technology, to remove tartar that cannot be removed with just a toothbrush and toothpaste. Of course, practicing good oral hygiene is also a good idea to prevent plaque from forming in the first place.

It should be noted that trauma to the tooth can also lead to infections, especially if there is injury like a cracked or chipped tooth. This weakens the tooth and allows bacteria to get into your teeth much faster. You might be in danger of inflammation or other complications with these types of injuries. Many people consider these injuries harmless, so they ignore them, but they could lead to some of the complications mentioned earlier.

The same could be said about loose crowns or fillings. Both of these are open doors for bacteria to harm your teeth more than they already do. The damage needs to be fixed, which is why you need the help of the best dentist in Reseda.