The term “root canal” strikes fear in the hearts of even the bravest patients, but there is no longer a reason to fear this procedure. The old way of performing root canals has fallen by the wayside, and new treatments are virtually pain-free, leaving patients feeling better, without having to spend days recovering. Instead of putting off your root canal, take a moment to understand what you can expect from your Irvine dentist when you undergo this procedure.

What Is a Root Canal?

A root canal is the procedure that removes the infected or decayed pulp from a tooth. This allows the tooth to be saved so you don’t have to get it extracted. The pulp needs to be removed, because, if left untreated, it can cause the tooth to become abscessed, which is a far more painful condition. The bacteria can also cause infections.

How Much Will It Hurt?

Many people are concerned about the potential pain of the procedure, but the pain that the infected pulp causes before the root canal is far more intense than the root canal procedure. Advances in local anesthetics now allow dentists to perform root canals while patients feel little to no pain at all. Remember, leaving the tooth untreated will cause you more pain down the road, so be sure to schedule your root canal before the situation requires more invasive treatments.

Your Irvine dentist knows all the latest techniques to perform your root canal quickly and with as little pain as possible. The term “root canal” is no longer one of which to be fearful, and having this procedure can help save your teeth.

When to Visit Your Irvine Dentist

Living in Irvine offers opportunities to enjoy a lifestyle that includes plenty of sunshine and outdoor activities. But care of one’s body, alone, is not enough. The importance of regular visits to the dentist cannot be over emphasized. It is through such visits that good oral hygiene is practiced, and that problems can be detected early. Even those who are diligent about oral health, and who dutifully brush and floss on a daily basis, can experience unexpected developments with their dental condition.

How can you know when a condition you’ve discovered warrants a trip to your Irvine dentist? While some occurrences may be minor, it is never wrong to err on the side of caution. Since most people see their dentists for checkups every six months, letting something go for months could exacerbate the problem. It is better to go as soon you notice something amiss.

Of particular concern are any of the following conditions:

• Gums that are red, tender or swollen
• Bleeding, especially when brushing or flossing
• Gums that can be lifted away from your teeth
• Loose permanent teeth
• Changes in the alignment of your top and bottom teeth
• Unusual sensitivity to hot and cold
• Persistent bad breath or an unusual taste in your mouth

With good oral care and regular checkups with your Irvine dentist, you should never experience most of these problems. Prevention is the best defense against gum disease and dental problems. In the event you do experience any of these conditions, or any other troubling oral problem, contact your dentist for an appointment as soon as possible.

Don’t Let Holiday Foods Wreck Your Smile

The holidays revolve around junk food. Halloween has its candy, Thanksgiving has its sweet desserts and pies, and Christmas is full of a variety of unhealthy junk foods that can cause cavities to take root in your mouth. While the best way to fight against cavities is to boycott the sweets, your Orange County dentist knows that this isn’t always a viable solution (or one that you will want to embark on,) so instead, we will offer you preventative steps in order to keep cavities at bay.

Brush at Least Twice a Day

It’s always important to brush at least twice a day – preferably, once in the morning, and once in the evening. Colgate is one of the best toothpaste options, since it contains fluoride, xylitol and other ingredients that protect against tooth decay. Brushing should occur in two-minute increments, with the brush staying along the gums and feeling a little more than a tickle. Don’t apply too much pressure, or you can cause damage to the gums. While brushing twice daily is recommended, you might consider brushing more frequently, on occasions when extra sweets have been consumed.

Floss Daily

It’s vital you floss between your teeth and between the pockets of your gums on a daily basis. Flossing is the most effective way to remove food debris from between your teeth and gums, and to help prevent tooth decay. It is recommended to floss during your night time routine, and to use wax floss for best results.

Rinsing

It’s also important to use mouth rinse as part of your dental cleansing routine. Biotene and ACT mouth washes not only kill bacteria, but they have preventative ingredients, as well.

It can be hard to resist the temptation of sugary foods at the holiday, but as long as you follow these preventative measures from your Orange County dentist, you shouldn’t have to worry – just remember to floss that turkey and pumpkin pie from between your teeth.