Clear Indicators of the Need for Root Canal Therapy

Dentist Blog

Oral problems are something everyone will have to experience and deal with at some point in their life. But when it comes to teeth, the source of the issue can be challenging to identify. And if you are unsure of what is wrong, you may chalk it up to a simple toothache and proceed to self-medicate. Nonetheless, some oral problems will not go away with some paracetamol. One such issue is when the pulp inside your tooth becomes compromised. Whatever the cause, endodontic treatment in the form of root canal therapy is imperative. This piece illuminates a few clear indicators of the need for root canal treatment.

Sudden tenderness

The thing most people take for granted regarding tooth decay is that it does not occur overnight. You may think that once you start feeling pain in your tooth, then it is the first sign of trouble, but you would be wrong.  In fact, the bacteria will progressively spread through your pulp, and by the time you realise your tooth is infected, it may be too late to salvage it. One of the first signs that you will notice is that the gum around your tooth is tender to the touch. So if you begin to feel uncomfortable on that isolated area when brushing your teeth or chewing, then you should be concerned about the onset of decay, or dental caries, that could eventually lead to the need of root canal therapy.

Swelling and pus

The second symptom of a damaged tooth that should prompt you to visit a dentist is swelling of the gums around the tooth. The swelling come about from inflammation of the nerve endings that are close to the damage. If the swelling is accompanied by pus oozing out of the affected area, it is a definitive sign that you have an infected tooth that either needs to be extracted or has to undergo root canal therapy. In some cases, you may not notice the pus outright because it may be inside the damaged tooth. In these instances, be wary of any foul taste in your mouth since it could mean you are tasting the pus without locating the source.

Lodged food

Food debris, granted, always becomes stuck in between teeth, and that is why you need to brush and floss daily. However, when you start to notice food is continuously being lodged inside a particular tooth, it could mean that the pulp is deteriorating. When your tooth develops decay, the crown steadily degrades. The more degradation, the higher the likelihood of food particles making their way into the space left behind. It is critical to have a dentist examine the tooth right away since the decay will only become worse.

24 April 2019