Ask The Dental Hygienist

A root canal is a dental procedure that all of us are familiar with. Root canals are something we all dread, although when someone else is getting the procedure most of us find it to be somewhat amusing. When someone asks for a root canal on the other hand, most of us, including dentists, find it to be very absurd to say the least.

Although many aren’t aware of this, root canals have been around for many generations. Many years ago, ancient civilizations used this method to save teeth that would have been lost otherwise. These civilizations offered root canals to those such as queens, kings, pharaohs, and the rich. The teeth from peasants were normally extracted then sold to aristocrats.

Many years ago, doctors believed that worms were the reason for tooth decay. They also believed that there were many ways to kill the worms, including rinsing the mouth in one’s own urine both day and night. Although this is sick to say the least, this remedy was discarded in 1728, proven to be non effective and replaced by other more suitable treatment. As time passed, doctors proved that the best way to stop the pain was to clean and remove the nerve and pulp of the tooth.

Root canals are a very common procedure these days, as they help to save the tooth by removing the dead or dying pulp. The pulp exists inside of the tooth, and can spread to abscess if it isn’t taken care of. The tissue in the pulp is kept alive by the blood vessels that come from the tip of the root and travel along the root canal into the tooth.

Decay is the main reason for pulp in the tooth dying. Once the decay has reached the pulp, it will keep eating away until the pulp has died. Once it dies, the toxins from the decay will be released into the root tip and make it’s way into the jawbone. If not taken care of properly, the jawbone can become infected, which can lead to death in rare cases.

To fix this problem, the dentist will need to perform a root canal. During the procedure, he will numb the area then drill a hole into the tooth. Using various tools and equipment, he will go down inside of the tooth and scrape away the nerves and dead pulp. This is a very effective procedure, although very time consuming as well. In most cases, a root canal can take several hours, although it is the only way to stop the dying pulp and save the tooth. Even though it may take a long time – it is more than worth it when it saves your tooth from being extracted.

It should be simple to keep bad breath at bay. While it is common knowledge that mouth fresheners act instantaneously, simple acts of personal hygiene can produce more lasting results. Most causes of halitosis are due to nothing more than carelessness or inconvenience. It is not always possible to brush teeth after a meal away from home, and bad breath is inevitable if you have enjoyed an exotic dish full of aromatic spices. Similarly, flossing can be most inconvenient, though traces of food stuck inside the mouth, will lose no time in raising a stink!

Not all causes of halitosis are beyond reasonable control. Some people may develop bad habits of failing to brush and floss before retiring for the night, or may simply not drink enough water. Irregular visits to dentists will inevitably lead to bacterial colonies finding refuge in the gums, and they can be awfully difficult to dislodge completely. There are some beneficial bacteria which reside in a healthy oral cavity, but the trick is to keep the harmful ones away. Overall, a combination of adequate personal hygiene and regular dental examinations should suffice to rule out the usual causes of halitosis.

Metabolic Causes of Halitosis

Diabetes can be free of symptoms in its early stages. Surveys show that large numbers of people in all countries may suffer from diabetes for years, without the condition being detected. This results in the build up of ketones in blood. Ketones are highly odorous chemicals which are formed when the body burns fat instead of carbohydrate for energy. Ketones are eliminated from blood through perspiration, in urine, and by way of exhaled breath. The latter joins the list of causes of halitosis, and it is a matter which a dentist cannot resolve on his or her own. This is why a dentist may send a patient to a physician, when there is nothing in the mouth which could result in halitosis. However, it is also possible that bacterial infections and diabetes are related, since high blood sugar predisposes people to immune deficiencies.

Sudden changes in diet can also cause bad breath. Fasting causes ketosis, as does a high protein diet, which also excludes carbohydrates. The bodies of people who try to lose weight rapidly, or to increase their musculatures, tend to use fat for energy, and smelly ketones build up in blood, finding their way to the lungs in the process. This is why special diets should be custom prepared for each individual by qualified experts.