Your permanent natural teeth are meant to last for the rest of your life. Even so, factors such as lifestyle and diet lead to tooth loss, root canals, and tooth replacements. The American Association of Endodontists acknowledges the challenges of losing your natural teeth. That is why you should do your best to care for your teeth. If you want to avoid crowns and root canals, here’s what you should know.
This is a crucial part of your daily oral hygiene. Between your teeth are tiny gaps that bacteria exploit. An ordinary toothbrush cannot reach those spaces. By running dental floss in between your teeth, you strip off the bacteria that cling to those unreachable areas. This prevents them from staying long enough to reproduce and give off acids that will decay your teeth.
Experts say that you should not think of your teeth as indestructible parts of your mouth. You should always regard them as vital components of your health. To prevent them from cracking, keep hard foods off your diet. This includes lollipops, hard cookies, and hard candies. You should also avoid crunching on ice cubes. Once your teeth crack, bacteria will be free to enter your teeth. These organisms will cause even more damage from the inside. From there, they can penetrate your root system more easily.
While it is part of the usual morning ritual, brushing your teeth at night remains an optional practice for most people. Experts say that you should start and end your day with clean teeth. When you sleep, unclean teeth provide a huge opportunity for bacteria to feed and reproduce. If you brush before bedtime, bacteria have little to use to thrive.
If you feel pain in just one tooth, you tend to feel the pain in your entire mouth. The pain even discourages you from doing anything else. Once pain sets in, you should see your dentist immediately. If tooth decay is slowly eating away your teeth, your dentist should be able to treat it. This will prevent a bigger dental procedure, such as a root canal, in the future.
Experts say that bacteria produce acids in your mouth. This compound corrodes your teeth, providing crucial openings through which bacteria enter. Drinking acidic beverages accelerates the breakdown of your enamel. The high amounts of sugar in these drinks also provide more food on which bacteria will thrive.
Bruxism or teeth grinding can fracture or crack your teeth. If you engage in physically demanding sports, your teeth can dislodge or chip off. Wearing a mouthguard while you sleep or while playing sports can protect your teeth from irreparable damage.
By maintaining good oral hygiene and safety, you can avoid having crowns and a root canal procedure. At Concierge Smile Boutique, we educate our patients on proper oral care during each dental exam. Please visit our clinic in Culver City, California, for an in-person consultation. You can also call us at 424-404-6400. That way, we can help schedule your appointment or answer your questions about maintaining good dental health.