Although the eyes may be the window to the soul, your mouth is a window to your body’s health. The state of your oral health can offer lots of clues about your overall health. Oral health and overall health are more connected than you might realize.

Your oral health is connected to many other health conditions beyond your mouth. Sometimes the first sign of a disease shows up in your mouth. In other cases, infections in your mouth, such as gum disease, can cause problems in other areas of your body. Learn more about this intimate connection between oral health and overall health.
The connection between oral health and overall health

Your mouth is normally teeming with bacteria. Usually you can keep these bacteria under control with good oral health care, such as daily brushing and flossing. Saliva also is a key defense against bacteria and viruses. It contains enzymes that destroy bacteria in different ways. But harmful bacteria can sometimes grow out of control and lead to periodontitis, a serious gum infection.

When your gums are healthy, bacteria in your mouth usually don’t enter your bloodstream. However, gum disease may provide bacteria a port of entry into your bloodstream. Sometimes invasive dental treatments also can allow bacteria to enter your bloodstream. And medications or treatments that reduce saliva flow or disrupt the normal balance of bacteria in your mouth also may lead to oral changes, making it easier for bacteria to enter your bloodstream. Some researchers believe that these bacteria and inflammation from your mouth are linked to other health problems in the rest of your body.

Here’s a look at some of the diseases and conditions that may be linked to oral health:

* Cardiovascular disease. Research shows that several types of cardiovascular disease may be linked to oral health. These include heart disease, clogged arteries and stroke. Although in some research periodontal disease seems to be associated with heart disease, more studies are needed before the link can be confirmed with certainty.
* Pregnancy and birth. Gum disease has been linked to premature birth. This is why it’s vital to maintain excellent oral health before you get pregnant and during your pregnancy.
* Diabetes. Diabetes increases your risk of gum disease, cavities, tooth loss, dry mouth and a variety of oral infections. Conversely, poor oral health can make your diabetes more difficult to control. Infections may cause your blood sugar to rise and require more insulin to keep it under control.
* Osteoporosis. The first stages of bone loss may show up in your teeth. Systemic loss of bone density in osteoporosis, including bone in the jaw, may create a condition where the bone supporting your teeth is increasingly susceptible to infectious destruction. Your dentist may be able to spot this on a routine clinical examination or with dental X-rays. If bone loss worsens, your dentist can suggest that you discuss the issue with your other health care providers.
* Other conditions. Many other conditions may make their presence known in your mouth before you know anything’s wrong. These may include Sjogren’s syndrome, certain cancers, eating disorders, syphilis, gonorrhea and substance abuse.

What you can do about oral health

If you didn’t already have enough reasons to take good care of your mouth, teeth and gums, the relationship between your oral health and your overall health provides even more. Resolve to practice good oral hygiene every day. You’re making an investment in your overall health, not just for now, but for the future, too.

The reasons for root canal therapy

The dental pulp can become diseased and inflamed and the damage (most often indicated by sensitivity to temperature or deep seated throbbing) is sufficiently advanced that the pulp tissue cannot be treated and made to recover. This irreversible problem requires removal of the dental pulp, hence a root canal procedure.

This deterioration can be more intense and the dental pulp has become dead tissue. The tooth will no longer respond to temperature changes and sweets. The dead pulp tissue and bacteria from the inside of the tooth can affect the bone and cause infection outside the tooth at the tip of the root(s).

Symptoms most commonly associated with non-vital infection are a tooth that hurts to bite on or becomes sore to touch. An x-ray will help in the diagnosis of this problem, but only when the infection is so advanced as to cause loss of bone around the root tip of the tooth.

The treatment of either of those two categories of infection is essentially the same in routine cases. Root canal therapy is the treatment of the inside of the tooth so that the source of the infection or the source of inflammation causing the dental pain can be removed. The tooth is then protected from the problem recurring in the future.

The goal of root canal therapy is to create an environment inside the tooth to enable the infection to heal and render the tooth symptom free. This environment should be as sterile as possible, removing all tissue debris and bacteria to the tip of the root. The space must then be filled with an inert material to maintain this clean space.

What is the nature of root canal treatment?

The sophistication of endodontic techniques and new materials has made modern day endodontics a painless and uncomplicated procedure. Invariably, it is no different in its scope than a dental visit for a large filling. The majority of endodontic procedures are done in a single appointment. Upon completion of your treatment, we immediately communicate with your referring dentist so that follow-up treatment for restoring and protecting your tooth can be provided by them by them at the earliest opportunity. It is important that you contact your dentist for this treatment after your final visit with us. The tooth is finished with a permanent seal over the root canal system and a temporary filling in the access chamber which your dentist will remove and replace.

Does the root canal procedure hurt?

You will be completely numb during the procedure. Dr. Babagoli is well versed in a wide variety of anaesthesia protocols to ensure that you will feel nothing whatsoever during the procedure. There may indeed be post operative sensation, but for the most part, this is manageable with a specific regimen of over-the-counter medication.

Can antibiotics cure a root canal infection?

Unfortunately not. Antibiotics are indicated when there is swelling, a temperature, or other systemic signs of infections. Antibiotics may be useful to diminish symptoms such as biting pain before the root canal can be started, and may help prevent some types of post treatment pain involved with having the root canal performed. However, antibiotics cannot cure a root canal infection because the source of infection is inside the tooth where there is no blood supply. Therefore there is no mechanism to deliver the antibiotics. The cure is the complete cleaning, shaping and obturation of the contaminated root canal space.

Technical Considerations

Patients are referred for a root canal therapy because their dentist has recognized a need for special case management more suitably treated by an endodontic specialist. Acceptance of a ‘treatment’ appointment means you are prepared to proceed with the necessary procedure. However, if you have questions concerning the nature of the therapy required or you feel that special issues (medical history, insurance coverage) need to be discussed, or you simply want to meet and get to know Dr. Babagoli and staff before treatment is started, then a short appointment for ‘evaluation and consultation’ should be made prior to treatment. All of your questions will be answered prior to accepting root canal therapy (informed consent) to save your tooth.