It goes without saying that your oral health is comprised of more than just your teeth, and in fact, each area must be considered and cared for in order to pave the way for a healthy, lifelong smile. This includes your gums, tongue, and other structures and tissues in addition to your pearly whites. Indeed, falling short in any one category may be enough to kickstart a serious infection, and before you know it, you may be facing the possibility of losing a natural tooth. In today’s blog, your North Hollywood, CA dentist explains what happens when tooth decay is not treated early, and how you can take better care of your natural structures.

Failing to Seek Treatment

There are a number of reasons infection or other oral concerns may develop, but one of the most common has to do with your level of preventive dental care. Indeed, most smiles require much more care than patients are actively putting into them, and falling short in one or more areas of your routine can put your smile’s integrity at stake.

To avoid this, your dentist recommends a thorough routine consisting of brushing your teeth, flossing, learning about the impact of certain foods and beverages on your teeth, and attending your routine checkup.

Sometimes, however, the infection may develop and spread faster than you would expect. Though cavities can be treated with dental fillings, most of the time patients are not aware they have one until it grows and begins to impact their daily lives. To learn more about this process, reach out to our team today.

The Impact on Your Function

When looking at tooth decay – the most common oral health concern out there – patients are usually able to mitigate much of the damage that accompanies it when attending routine checkups and cleanings. If you skip as little as one visit, however, your chances of developing a minor concern and it becoming major increases exponentially.

When decay spreads, it works its way into your sensitive tooth roots that house your nerves. Because of the damage it causes, you will experience sharp pains, difficulty with daily activities such as biting and chewing, and overall discomfort. Without effective treatment, you may even face the possibility of tooth loss.

How We Help

Decay in its earliest stages is often treated with a filling. However, sometimes the infection spreads rapidly to the point that a filling will no longer be successful or effective. In times such as these, more extensive treatment such as root canal therapy may need to be considered. Though there are different options to treat different stages of decay, the best thing to do is attend your visits and stay on top of care.

Learn More Today

Contact Modern Smiles in North Hollywood, CA by calling 818-763-9353 to learn more about effective prevention, and schedule your next appointment with our team today.