9 Common Signs You Need a Root Canal

It is not hard to find out that you need a filling, but it might be too late for you when you realize it. For this reason, it is vital to include regular visits to the dentist in your oral health routine. Then, a dentist will identify the problem before it develops.

Root canal therapy is used to get rid of bacteria in your root canal. This action prevents reinfection and saves your natural tooth. When your tooth becomes badly decayed, root canal therapy is also used to save it. The procedure begins by removing the infected pulp, and the inside of the tooth is cleaned, disinfected, filled then sealed.
Fortunately, some signs can tell you that you need root canal therapy. They are discussed below.

Severe Pain in the Tooth

Biting and chewing should be painless. If by any chance you feel some pain while eating or drinking, it might be due to an infection. This pain may indicate that you have a problem with the root of your tooth. Our dentist will check whether your blood vessels or nerves are inflamed due to an infection.

Chipped or Cracked Tooth

In your day-to-day activities, you can get a tooth knocked down accidentally. In addition, eating hard food can crack your tooth. These cases will expose the pulp and nerves below the tooth’s surface, leading to an infection. The risk here is that the infection can spread to your bloodstream. To avoid an infection root canal is required.

Tooth Sensitivity

Typically, you should be in a position to take cold and hot food and drinks. If your teeth are sensitive to such foodstuff, it is a cause of alarm. It may start as a mild pain but might be extreme with time.

Taking ice and only crunching it on the side of the mouth could mean you have damaged nerve endings and blood vessels. Our root canal specialist will address the problem accordingly.

Swollen Gum Area, Neck and Head

Pain and a raised bump (swell) on your gum is an indication of a periodontal problem under the surface of your teeth. Our periodontist in Coquitlam will examine the gums to know whether the cause is inflammation. A root canal is not the obvious therapy for swollen gums but is used in some instances.
Your neck might be swollen near the tooth. This inflammation might be an indication that an abscess has affected your lymph nodes.

Your tooth has a Dark or Grey Discoloration

Teeth will be discolored due to nerve damage below the surface of teeth, poor hygiene, or consuming food and drinks that stain them. A tooth that appears black or grey may be a dead one. If your tooth is darkening after it got hit, you need to visit our dentist.

Prolonged Sensitivity

A damaged root will result in prolonged teeth sensitivity. This is when your teeth hurt for weeks without improvement after applying pressure on them. This pain could show a root canal infection in the future. It won’t go away on its own; you need to contact our dentist near you.

Root Rot

After you get deep tooth decay, plaque starts to eat up the root. You won’t be in a position to solve the problem yourself by brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouth wash. Our dentist will do a root canal before fitting a crown to prevent the spread of the nerve and the bloodstream.

Discoloration of Your Gums

You are likely to know the normal color of your gum. Dark patches in your gum may be caused by restrictions of blood flow or infiltration of plaque at the pulp layer of the affected tooth.

Insomnia

Pain leads to anxiety, and this causes the inability to sleep. If it is almost impossible to see a dentist at midnight, you should visit one after waking up.

What to Do If You Observe These Symptoms?

Tri-Cities Dental Specialist has got a dentist in Coquitlam to help you and your family detect root canal issues early enough. If you happen to get any of the symptoms, do not hesitate to book an appointment with us. After visiting our office, our dentist will examine your teeth, and if necessary, root canal therapy will be administered to you.