Commercial Roofing doesn’t have much to do with Dentistry, however, there are a lot of similarities in a leaky roof and an achy tooth.

Here’s how they’re alike.

Both Are Caused By Exposure

When a roof is exposed to the elements (sun, rain, hail, wind, etc.) over time it will start to wear down the roofing surface before eventually it breaks through. Similarly, a cavity starts with exposure to acid (particularly from foods and drinks that contain sugar and starches). Over time these repeated attacks of acid can break down the enamel and mineral on a tooth as indicated by a white spot on the tooth.

Tooth decay and cavities can be reversed with the help of fluoride or the tooth can repair itself with minerals (in food) and saliva. Roof damage can also be “reversed” with ongoing maintenance. Particularly with roof coatings, we can reapply and re-seal vulnerable areas and help extend the life of any commercial or industrial roof.

Both Start Out Small

Both a leaky roof and achy tooth start out small. For roofs, it’s often a failure on the roof surface that most building owners can’t detect unless they’re on a roof. For a cavity it starts as a white spot on the tooth indicating that the enamel surface has worn off.

Many people don’t realize that a white spot on a tooth is bad since white teeth are often desirable.

In each of the instances, the small problem seems inconsequential and not worth addressing in the moment.

Both Will Only Get Worse Without Addressing the Issue

A roof with a small leak will only get worse over time. We often tell building owners that a small leak in one area could indicate a widespread problem of roof failure throughout- it’s not common to only have one area leak while the other areas are fine.

Likewise with a tooth, the cavity will only spread without addressing the issue since you rarely use one tooth to consume your food and drinks. The way a cavity evolves is from white spot, tooth ache/pain, infection, and eventually tooth loss if unaddressed. Essentially you’ll have to buy a replacement tooth (or go without) if the cavity continues to progress.

The result of prolonged roof leaks will force you to completely replace your roof without the option of even using roof coatings. If you’re able to address the issue early then at least you still give yourself some choices based on your timeline and budget.

Proactive Care is the Best and Cheapest Option

With your teeth, managing their health through a healthy diet and good oral habits will be your best way to prevent cavities.

And with your roof, regular inspections and squashing small issues quickly will also extend the life of your roof. With every new commercial or industrial roof we restore, we offer our clients a maintenance plan so they receive regular, seasonal inspections to fix any issues before they become worse.

If you’re in the market for a Commercial Roofing Company in Omaha, we’d love to be considered. Please call us to (402) 289-7869 to stop your leaks!