The American Association of Endodontists conducted a recent study that found that 59 percent of people are more afraid of getting a root canal than speaking in public. If you agree with 59 percent of the people you surveyed, just know that there are several ways you can drastically reduce your risk of needing this procedure. Read on for three ways to minimize the chances of needing a root canal from your dentist in Louisville.
1. Maintain a Good At-Home Oral Hygiene Routine
The American Dental Association recommends brushing twice each day, flossing once daily and rinsing with antimicrobial mouthwash at least once a day to maintain good oral health throughout your life. By doing this, you can prevent the accumulation of plaque and tartar as well as harmful oral bacteria that erode teeth and can lead to infections.
2. Schedule Your Routine Checkups & Cleanings
Along with a good oral hygiene routine, it’s important to visit your dentist twice a year for checkups and cleanings. During these appointments, your dentist and dental hygienist will collect X-rays and conduct a thorough examination of your mouth in search of any early signs of oral health problems, like cavities. This allows them to treat the issue before it has a chance to progress into something more serious, like a tooth infection. Once your checkup is complete, they’ll remove all plaque and tartar from your teeth and floss and polish them, minimizing any harmful oral bacteria accumulation and keeping your smile healthy until your next visit.
3. Wear a Nightguard if You Grind Your Teeth
Bruxism, more commonly known as teeth grinding, is a condition in which you grind and clench your teeth when you sleep, leading to the erosion of your enamel. Over time, this can provide your teeth with less protection against the threat of harmful oral bacteria, allowing them access to the inside of your tooth and causing infections. By investing in a customized nightguard, you can cushion your teeth from each other, avoiding any dental damage that could lead to needing a root canal.
Preventive Dentistry Can Help You Avoid a Root Canal & Save Money
All three of the suggestions above on avoiding a root canal would be considered preventive dentistry, but some of them are services that only your dentist can offer, like checkups and cleanings and nightguards. When you’re proactive about taking care of your teeth, it can pay out big time, because most dental insurance plans cover 80 to 100 percent of the cost of these services! Although, it’s important to keep in mind that every plan differs.
When you invest in your smile and stay on top of your preventive dental care, you can not only avoid an unexpected visit to your emergency dentist and a root canal, but you can also save yourself from a costly bill!
About the Practice
At Remmers Dental, our team is led by three highly experienced and compassionate dentists that strive to make every patient experience a positive one. We want to make taking care of your smile easy and stress-free, which is why we’re proudly in-network with most major PPO plans and are happy to file insurance claims on our patient’s behalf. We also work with CareCredit to offer low monthly payment plans for patients who don’t have insurance or need to cover an out-of-pocket cost. For questions or to schedule a checkup and cleaning, visit our website or call 502-499-0234.
