*Tips for Oral Health on the Occasion of Oral Hygiene Day (August 1st)*
*Teeth are an Essential and vital important part of our body,root canal treatment is an effective solution for relief from toothache: Dr.Nawaz*
Sharing information on the occasion of Oral Hygiene Day, Dr.M.S.Nawaz explained that just as maintaining a healthy body is important,proper care of teeth and oral health is equally essential. Teeth are the part of our body that helps us chew food and plays a important role in our appearance.
*Why is oral hygiene important?*
Oral health is linked to overall bodily health.If there is an infection in the mouth,bacteria can travel via saliva into the stomach and then through the bloodstream to other parts of the body.This can lead to issues such as heart disease, diabetes,pneumonia, pregnancy complications (like premature birth and low birth weight), Alzheimer’s disease (memory loss), HIV/AIDS, and stroke. Proper oral hygiene can prevent oral health problems—such as tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath,before they even begin.Keeping teeth and gums healthy is a vital part of overall well-being.
*What are the benefits of good oral hygiene?*
Healthy teeth lead to a beautiful smile and fresh breath.There is less need for dental treatments like fillings, crowns,bridges, implants,or dentures. It reduces the risk of oral cancer, heart disease, diabetes,and other health issues,and is also more cost effective than emergency dental treatment.
Dr.Md.Saba Nawaz stated that proper oral hygiene is the key to optimal oral health. Cavity formation is a common problem that affects many people. Toothache is widespread,affecting everyone from children to the elderly; it can make eating,drinking, sitting, and even lying down difficult. Dr. Nawaz explained that when people experience toothache, they often repeatedly buy medication from medical shop however, this is not a cure and can actually aggravate the problem. Medication should only be taken upon a doctor’s advice.Root canal treatment is recommended when the pain is severe.While extracting infected teeth used to be the only common solution, various treatments and solutions are now available to such issues.Root canal treatment is one such method that provides relief to the patient. Although many people are familiar with root canal treatment, it is essential for those who are not to understand what it entails.
*When is a root canal needed?*
If there is tooth pain,the doctor first identifies the problem In most cases, the issue can be resolved via a root canal.This treatment is suitable for conditions such as pain caused by decay or injury; swelling or lumps in the gums beneath the tooth; discoloration; tooth wear due to vigorous brushing or using a *Tooth cleaning twing (Datun)* (chewing stick) over a long period; sensitivity (tingling or reacting to hot and cold); excessive dental attrition (where the tooth crown wears down significantly due to bad habits or grinding teeth during sleep); or periapical infections involving pus or swelling.Tooth extraction is advised only when the condition of the tooth has deteriorated severely.
Every tooth contains a soft inner core known as the pulp or the tooth’s nerve.When a cavity grows large—meaning the decay deepens—it reaches this nerve, causing severe pain, swelling, or the formation of pus.
During a root canal procedure, this infected pulp is removed; the interior of the tooth is thoroughly cleaned, filled with a special material,and sealed. Anesthesia is administered to ensure the patient does not experience pain during the procedure; the area is numbed before the process begins. Therefore,it is advisable to eat a meal before visiting the dentist,as you may not feel hungry during or immediately after the procedure.It takes a few hours for the numbness to wear off; chewing while numb can lead to accidentally biting your lips or cheeks,so you should avoid chewing for two hours.
*How is the root canal treatment procedure performed?*
The infected pulp is removed by making a small opening in the tooth.
• *Access Opening*
A small hole is made in the center of the tooth to allow for the complete removal of the pulp and to reach the root tips, ensuring thorough cleaning.
• *Cleaning and Shaping*
The infected or damaged pulp is completely removed using specialized instruments.Afterward, any remaining bacteria are cleared away, and the internal space is shaped to prepare it for the subsequent filling.
• *Disinfection*
The root canal is disinfected to eliminate any remaining bacteria that could cause infection.During each session,medication is placed inside the tooth, followed by a temporary filling.Once the tooth is thoroughly cleaned and the pain has subsided, the root canals are permanently filled to prevent future infection.
• *Obturation & Filling*
After complete cleaning and disinfection, the empty root canal is sealed to prevent reinfection.The canal is filled using a material called gutta-percha combined with a dental sealer (root canal sealer).
• *Restoration and Capping*
In most of the cases, silver or tooth colored permanent cement is put on the tooth which has been root canalized to protect it and to restore its function, but the root canal teeth become weak and will require repairs like dental crowns to last longer, hence to protect it, an artificial crown cap is placed on top which strengthens the teeth so that the root canal teeth last longer.
• *Recovery*
The patient may feel some mild discomfort or sensitivity after the procedure but this is relieved by medication. Most individuals can return to their normal activities immediately after the procedure. Root canal treatment is highly successful in saving infected or damaged teeth,helping patients retain their natural teeth and avoid tooth extraction.It reduces pain and restores oral health making it a valuable dental procedure for those in need.Regular dental checkups and prompt root canal therapy can help prevent problems.
*Time and expense*
The time taken to recover from root canal treatment varies from patient to patient, depending on their age and oral health condition.Most patients get relief the first time.The procedure is done in three to four sittings at an interval of one to two days.It is done with a cap,which has a more successful result and the root canal lasts for a longer time.otherwise,there is a single sitting RCT, in which there may be some difficulty.The patient experiences severe pain after becoming anesthesia numb.The pain is felt for two to four days and does not get immediate relief.This is common, in some cases it also depends on the condition of the tooth, if there is swelling in the tooth, pus or periapical infection,then one to two sittings may be required more, depending on some teeth, there is a canal in the front teeth, there is more than one canal in the back teeth, multiple canal in back teeth it also depends on that. Talking about the cost, it depends on the doctor and the place,only RCT can cost from tws thousand to ten thousand.A lot depends on the experience of the dentist and modern equipment and materials.If the dentist has used special and expensive materials, he can charge more from the patient.
*Benefits of root canal treatment*
• *Relief from pain*
The primary goal of a canal is to provide relief from severe tooth pain caused by infection or decay.Most patients find relief soon after the procedure.
• *Better oral health*
Root canal treatment cleans the tooth by removing the infected part and prevents the infection from spreading so that other teeth do not get damaged.
* *chewing better*
With a crown,the tooth is made to chew as before, so that the tooth can be used for chewing food as before.
• *cosmetic benefits*
Dental crowns match the color and shape of natural teeth, enhancing the beauty and beauty of your smile.
*Objectives of root canal treatment*
*Pain Relief*: Root canal is often required when the pain becomes unbearable due to infection or inflammation of the nerve of the tooth.The purpose of this procedure is to reduce this pain.
*Save Teeth*: Instead of removing the damaged teeth, the aim is to save the patient’s smile and removing the teeth can also cause other teeth to become crooked and crooked.The alignment of the teeth can get disturbed which can cause teeth alignment problems.The purpose of root canal is to preserve the natural structure of the teeth.
*After Root Canal Care and Maintenance*
• *Regular dental checkup*
Get regular dental checkups done so that the dentist can monitor the health of your teeth and mouth.Sometimes the surrounding teeth can get damaged due to cap, hence regular checkups can be avoided.Then dental floss,interdental brush, water flosser are required in the some cases capped teeth.
• *oral hygiene*
Brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss daily to keep your teeth and gums clean and free of plaque and bacteria.Proper oral hygiene helps prevent new infections.
• *Avoidance of hard or sticky foods*
Be cautious about your chewing habits, especially avoid cutting and chewing hard foods or eating sticky foods immediately after the procedure.
• *safety and protection*
If a dental crown is placed on the tooth after treatment, take care of its safety so that it can be durable.
• *Pain Management*
If there is discomfort after root canal or the canal is missing,then after a few years,due to pain or infection in the root canal tooth, re-root canal can also be done.
• *Follow-up X-rays* Periodic X-rays may be required to monitor the condition of the treated tooth.Issues such as food getting trapped around the capped tooth and the accumulation of bacteria and plaque are common an annual X-ray helps monitor the capped tooth and prevents damage to surrounding teeth.
