Toothache Remedy Toothaches Tooth Infection Root Canal Pain Toothache Help Tooth Pain Tooth Abscess Root Canal Cost Dental Emergency

Tooth Infection Changing Your View Of Root Canals

A tooth infection can certainly disrupt your life! It is one of the most common sources of dental pain and usually

results in the need for root canal therapy.

Understanding exactly what is going on with your tooth can help you control the confusion and stress that can accompany having a root canal.

There are several possible causes of a tooth infection:

Deep tooth decay. Did you know that you can have a very deep cavity in your tooth and not even know it until you have a toothache? Tooth decay starts with a very tiny hole in the hard outer surface of your tooth known as the enamel. Once this decay penetrates the hard enamel it meets the softer dentin of the tooth. Tooth decay can move quickly through the dentin. Bacteria from the decay can then enter the dental pulp. The pulp is the nerve and blood supply inside the tooth. This is a soft tissue that is protected by the dentin and enamel. Bacteria from tooth decay causes the pulp to become inflamed. This inflammation can become so severe that the pulp tissue basically dies. This is what is known as a tooth infection.

Cracked tooth. If you have a tiny crack in a tooth that is not repaired for a long time it may lead to a tooth infection. Bacteria from your saliva will get in the crack and ultimately cause the pulp to become infected. This is why you should go to your dentist if you have any pain while chewing on a tooth. Sometimes your dentist can repair a small crack before the tooth requires root canal therapy. Also, a crack can become so severe that a tooth cannot be saved even with a root canal crown.

Previous fillings and crowns. Any tooth that has a deep filling or a crown is susceptible to developing a tooth infection. Every time you have a dental procedure performed on a tooth the pulp becomes inflamed. You may have experienced a slight toothache after this procedure. Most of the time the inflammation resolves and your tooth becomes comfortable again. However, it is also possible that the inflammation becomes chronic and ultimately leads to the pulp dying and a tooth infection.

Trauma to a tooth. If you bump your tooth in an accident the dental pulp can become inflamed and eventually die. This type of tooth infection is sometimes accompanied by a discoloration of the tooth.

There are two possible treatments of a tooth infection:

#1 Extraction. Essentially you have to remove the necrotic (dead) pulp tissue in order to get the infection to heal. Extraction accomplishes this by removing the entire tooth. Sometimes a tooth can't be saved and must be extracted. Dentists typically do everything possible to avoid tooth extraction.

#2 Root canal therapy. This will eliminate the necrotic (dead) pulp tissue but will save the tooth. Root canals are a very misunderstood dental procedure. This misunderstanding has led to unnecessary fears and anxiety. People sometimes choose to have a tooth extracted because of the stories they've heard about root canals.

I've written a book, The Relaxed Root Canal . I explain exactly what a root canal is and why you should relax about having one.

I've performed thousands of root canals and heard just about every possible question that can be asked. I answer over 80 root canal questions in The Relaxed Root Canal including, "will my root canal hurt?"

If you have a tooth infection and are in need of a root canal you need to ask your dentist one question. You need to ask this BEFORE your root canal therapy. In Chapter 5 of The Relaxed Root Canal I'll tell you what question to ask and what to do if you get the wrong answer.

You'll also learn the one thing you should not put on your jaw if you have a tooth infection. For more information

CLICK HERE.