Root canal is a treatment for repairing and saving a tooth that is badly decayed or infected. A tooth's nerve and pulp can become irritated, inflamed and infected. This happens mostly due to tooth decay, repeated dental procedures, a crack or chip in the tooth or an accident that may have impacted the face. To avoid a serious problem, always keep a look out for some signs that may indicate that you could require a root canal treatment. The symptoms are as follows:

• Swelling and tenderness in gums that may also spread to other areas of the face, neck, or head
• A persistent or recurring pimple on the gums
• Severe toothache upon chewing
• Prolonged sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures
• Discoloration of the tooth
• Bone loss around the tip of the root

If you do require undergoing a root canal treatment due to a dental problem, the following steps will help you understand the procedure better:

1. Local anaesthesia is administered to numb the tooth to be treated and the surrounding tissues.
2. The dentist will insert a dental dam to isolate infected tooth from the rest of mouth to facilitate root canal treatment.
3. A small access hole is drilled through, allowing access to the pulp chamber and root canal for treatment.
4. The diseased and dead pulp tissue is removed from the tooth with specially designed instruments used to clean out the root canal and pulp chamber.
5. The canals are disinfected with antiseptic and antibacterial solutions.
6. Root canal fillings are selected such that it will exactly fit into the freshly prepared canals. Sealing the canals is critically important to prevent them from becoming re-infected with bacteria.
7. A filling material will then be placed to seal the access hole that was made to treat the canals, and the dental dam is removed.
8. After the procedure, an antibiotic may be prescribed to treat or prevent infection.
9. You will then need to get a permanent filling or a crown to replace lost tooth structure, and provide a complete seal to the top of the tooth.

After the procedure is done, follow the instructions given below to avoid any dental problems:

• Eat on the side of the mouth the procedure has been performed on, even if this area is still numb.
• To reduce swelling, place an ice pack on the cheek, covering the wound.
• Take the medication prescribed by your dentist after the procedure.
• Sleep with your head slightly elevated for the initial few nights.
• Avoid alcoholic beverages and smoking on the day.
• Rinse your mouth with warm salt water occasionally for at least 2 days.
• Gently brush your teeth using India’s best toothpaste - Meswak.

Following these tips and instructions will allow your tooth to heal faster without any complications arising. Make sure your dentist puts a cap/crown on top of a root canaled tooth. Maintain proper oral hygiene and choose the right toothpaste to keep all dental problems away & ensure proper dental care.