6 Warning Signs You May Need Root Canal Treatment

It can be tricky to know whether or not you’ll need dental work, particularly during the early stages of a dental problem. Physical symptoms typically don’t arise until a problem has advanced, so only your dentist in Blackburn can determine many of these signs. It’s important to see your dentist before a problem escalates, as your tooth may become infected and require root canal therapy.

Root canal treatment can save a damaged tooth if it has become badly decayed or infected. During this treatment, your dentist will remove the nerve and pulp of the tooth, while cleaning the inside and sealing it.

Wondering when you’ll need a root canal treatment done? Here are the 6 warning signs to keep a lookout for.

1. Persistent Pain

Pain can be one of the main indicators that something is wrong with the root of your tooth. If everyday activities like eating or drinking cause pain, it’s important to pay a visit to your dentist as soon as you can. Your dentist will check your affected tooth for inflamed blood vessels or nerves for any signs of infection.

Your dentist will then decide whether it’s necessary to use root canal treatment, depending on whether antibiotics are sufficient or not for these types of infection.

2. Swollen Gums

Swollen gums can be an indication that you may require root canal treatment. Gums that are swollen, painful and that have developed a bump, are signs of problems beneath the surface. If this is the case, your dentist will examine your gums to see if inflammation is the reason for this. In some cases, root canal treatment can be used to solve persistent problems with inflamed gums.

3. Chipped or Cracked Teeth

A chipped or cracked tooth can be caused by eating hard foods, injury during contact sport or damage caused by dental procedures in the past.

Nerves can become exposed if your tooth is cracked or chipped, and this can lead to infection. When the root of a tooth becomes infected, it can enter your bloodstream and spread. Root canal treatment is required in these cases to prevent the infection from spreading and causing further pain.

4. Deep Decay

A cavity that has been left untreated can eventually spread into the nerves and the root of your tooth. Brushing, flossing or rinsing becomes redundant in solving your problem. The only method that can save your tooth is through root canal therapy. This is why practising good oral hygiene and visiting your dentist regularly is so important.

5. Sensitive Teeth

Prolonged tooth sensitivity when placing pressure on your tooth is most likely due to a damaged root. If the sensitivity has lasted weeks or months, root canal treatment can help alleviate the pain and prevent it from spreading.

Tooth sensitivity while consuming hot or cold foods and beverages, on the other hand, can be another clear indication of an infected tooth. Root canal treatment is required to ease the pain significantly.

6. Discolored Teeth

Tooth discolouration can occur due to a number of reasons. Poor oral hygiene, dark coloured foods and beverages or nerve damage beneath the tooth’s surface, are all common causes of discoloured teeth. Once your dentist identifies nerve and blood vessel damage, root canal treatment can then be scheduled to eradicate it.

Parting Words

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms or signs, root canal treatment may be the only way to resolve your dental issue. Root canals are common and don’t have to be painful. Ultimately, continuing with a damaged tooth will be more painful than undergoing a root canal procedure. Aches, pains and sensitivity can be expected following surgery but bear in mind that these discomforts will eventually subside within a couple of weeks. To avoid a root canal treatment altogether, be mindful of your daily habits and take the right steps every day to take care of your teeth.