5 Proven Steps to Prevent Cavities and Skip Root Canals for Good

8 min read ·

By David Shen, DMD
Founder, OrthoWorks Orthodontic Group
40 Years in the Practice of Orthodontics and Dental Orthopedics

When most people worry about their teeth, it’s usually about cavities—or even worse, an unexpected root canal. Yet, few realize how fundamentally these problems can be tied to the way your teeth and jaws are constructed and aligned. Over my four decades in orthodontic practice, I’ve witnessed case after case where early orthodontic attention dramatically reduced the risk of serious dental issues for the long term.

A recent New York Times article by Susan Shapiro, with insights from leading dental experts, brings light to surprising contributors to tooth decay and root canal infections, including:

Dry mouth
Dental trauma
Teeth grinding (bruxism)
Acidic diets
Difficulty cleaning crowded teeth

These findings pinpoint problems we see every day as orthodontists. Often, it’s the structure of the jaws and bite that lays the groundwork for cavities, infections, and the eventual need for root canal treatment—even before a single symptom appears.

Curious how you can outsmart cavities and root canals? Here are five proven steps to protect your smile, with an emphasis on the often-overlooked benefits of orthodontic care.

1. Beat Dry Mouth by Enhancing Airway and Jaw Alignment

Did you know dry mouth is a powerful risk factor for cavities? Saliva is a natural defender, shielding your enamel and helping to wash away bacteria and food particles. But a chronically dry mouth leaves your teeth exposed and at greater risk for decay.

This problem is especially pronounced in those with:

Narrow upper jaws
Retruded (set-back) lower jaws

Why? Because these structural issues can constrict your airway, leading to chronic mouth breathing instead of healthy nasal breathing.

Chronic mouth breathing:

Dries out the oral tissues
Weakens enamel
Spurs bacterial growth and acid attacks

In combination, this dramatically elevates your risk for cavities—and the possibility of eventually needing root canal treatment.

How orthodontics helps:
Treatments such as jaw expansion and bite improvement can:

Widen the airway
Encourage a switch to nasal breathing
Reduce the damage that dry mouth inflicts on enamel

By supporting healthy jaw alignment and airway function, orthodontic care creates a naturally protective environment for your teeth.

2. Fix Protruding Front Teeth to Lower Your Trauma Risk

Shapiro’s report highlights dental trauma—a leading cause of root canals—often affects those with upper front teeth that visibly stick out.

Why does this matter? Protruding front teeth are:

More susceptible to chips and fractures
Especially at risk during sports, playground mishaps, or bumps and falls

A single hit can crack a tooth and give bacteria a fast track to the inner nerve (pulp). Once the nerve is threatened, a root canal may be the only way to save the tooth.

How orthodontics helps:
Timely correction of protruding teeth can:

Bring teeth into safer positions
Dramatically reduce the chance of chips, cracks, and fractures
Shield the delicate nerve tissue inside each tooth

For children and teens, especially those active in sports, early orthodontic evaluation is vital to minimize the risk that trauma could trigger bigger problems down the line.

3. Straighten Crowded Teeth for Easier Cleaning

Are you brushing and flossing religiously, but still getting cavities? Crowded or overlapping teeth may be to blame. Tight spaces can trap:

Food debris
Plaque
Hidden bacteria

Even the best brushing habits can’t always reach these trouble spots—meaning decay can develop in secret until it becomes painful or advanced.

Benefits of orthodontic straightening:

Makes brushing and flossing more effective
Reduces stubborn plaque buildup
Helps prevent deep, hidden cavities that can spark infections requiring root canals

Well-aligned teeth aren’t just more attractive—they’re far easier to keep clean, making orthodontics a crucial part of lifelong dental health.

4. Correct Your Bite to Guard Against Abnormal Tooth Wear

Imagine only a few teeth doing all the work while you chew. Bite problems—like deep bites, open bites, or crossbites—cause just that, placing excessive pressure on certain teeth.

This can lead to:

Accelerated enamel wear
Minute cracks in the teeth
Exposed dentin, resulting in sensitivity
Greater vulnerability to decay

Once enamel is compromised, decay can move in fast, increasing the likelihood of nerve infections and root canal treatments.

How bite correction helps:

Aligns teeth and jaws for a balanced bite
Distributes chewing pressure evenly
Protects enamel and nerves from unnecessary stress

Bite correction doesn’t just improve comfort and appearance—it’s a powerful defense against enamel breakdown and future dental problems.

5. Reduce Teeth Grinding (Bruxism) by Stabilizing the Jaw

Bruxism—grinding or clenching your teeth, often at night—is another major contributor to dental fractures and root canal infections. Many people grind their teeth in their sleep without even realizing it.

Chronic grinding can:

Crack or break teeth
Wear away precious enamel
Irritate or inflame tooth nerves

Misaligned jaws are a common culprit. If the bite isn’t stable, jaw and facial muscles compensate by working harder, fueling tension and grinding.

How orthodontics helps:

Stabilizes the bite
Relieves muscle strain
Lowers risk of tooth fractures and nerve irritation

The result? Fewer cracks, less sensitivity, and fewer emergencies that land you in the root canal chair.

Insights from the New York Times

In Susan Shapiro’s New York Times article, real patient stories underscore just how many root canal cases could have been avoided. Key risks included:

Persistent dry mouth
Acidic foods and drinks
Plaque traps around crowded teeth
Trauma to protruding teeth
Long-standing grinding and clenching

The lesson?
Orthodontic problems often set the stage for cavities and infections long before you feel pain or notice anything is wrong.

Proactive treatment of structural issues like crowding, bite imbalance, protrusion, and airway concerns can significantly lower the risk of severe dental interventions down the road.

Orthodontics: More Than Just Straight Teeth

When most people think “orthodontics,” visions of perfectly straight teeth and gleaming smiles come to mind. While that’s certainly one benefit, orthodontic care is also a foundational pillar of preventive dentistry.

Properly aligned teeth and a healthy bite mean:

Easier, more thorough cleaning
Reduced risk of chips, fractures, and trauma
Better airway function and less dry mouth
Lower odds of harmful grinding
Superior long-term protection for both enamel and tooth nerves

Translation: Orthodontics isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s a smart, long-term investment to protect your oral health and prevent persistent problems like cavities and root canals.

About OrthoWorks Orthodontic Group

At OrthoWorks Orthodontic Group, our mission is clear: to help you achieve a smile that’s as healthy as it is beautiful. We provide advanced orthodontic care to children, teens, and adults, with:

Six board-certified orthodontic specialists
Nine convenient Bay Area locations

Over 40 years in practice, my clinical focus has centered on the important links between:

Facial development
Airway and breathing
Sustainable dental and oral health

Every day, we see how early recognition and treatment can help prevent the range of dental problems—decay, wear, trauma, infections—that so often lead to root canals.

Ready to Protect Your Smile?

Do you or your child struggle with:

Crowded or protruding teeth?
Deep bite, open bite, or crossbite?
Mouth breathing, snoring, or dry mouth?
Nighttime grinding or clenching?

If so, an orthodontic evaluation could be the best step you can take to safeguard your smile against cavities and root canals for years to come.

We would be honored to welcome you at any of our OrthoWorks locations.

David Shen, DMD and Associates
OrthoWorks Orthodontic Group