Your smile’s health is the most important factor to consider when it comes to caring for your teeth. While many people place a great emphasis on their smile’s appearance, the truth is that this factor holds no weight if you do not have a healthy structural foundation, to begin with. Further, it only takes falling short in your routine once for infection to take hold, and the longer you wait to treat it, the worse it will be to address. In today’s blog, your Kansas City, MO dentist discusses the need for root canal therapy, and how timely treatment makes for a stronger smile.
How Tooth Decay Spreads
Whether you are aware of it or not, your smile is constantly on the defensive against various threats and concerns. Indeed, oral bacteria is often the biggest offender, but that does not mean that germs, infection, and disease do not play a factor as well. As a matter of fact, among the various threats to your oral health, the most common out there has to be tooth decay.
Tooth decay occurs when oral bacteria lurk in the difficult-to-clean areas of the mouth and feed off of the food and beverages you consume. Certain substances in particular, such as sugar, cause oral bacteria to produce an acidic substance that actually has a hand in eroding your enamel.
Unlike an upset stomach or a headache, tooth decay will not simply disappear over time. As a matter of fact, the situation will continue to get worse without treatment. For example, the acidic substance will essentially create a hole in your tooth that functions as a passageway for oral bacteria to affect the inside of your structure. For more information about this process, reach out to our team today.
Functional Benefits of Treatment
When decay spreads to the sensitive tooth roots, you will begin to experience a number of signs and symptoms that something is amiss. For example, regular tasks such as biting, chewing, and eating become painful and more difficult to perform. Further, you could experience anything from discomfort and sensitivity to significant pain and an inability to perform routine tasks. To learn more about this phenomenon and how our team can help, give us a call today.
Understanding the Process
In order to treat spreading decay, your dentist will utilize restorative dentistry. In its early stages, decay can be treated with a composite filling. Once it has reached the inner workings of a tooth, however, your next best step is a root canal. Root canal therapy aims to remove infected dental pulp and fill the open canals with dental material to help reinforce its strength.
Learn More Today
Contact Delightful Dental Care in Kansas City, MO by calling 816-942-7669 to schedule your next appointment with our team and learn about the importance of an effective at-home dental routine.