Your tooth hurts, it’s sensitive to hot or cold liquids, and you can’t eat anything without it seeming like a chore. Your saliva is thicker, your mouth feels drier than usual, and your tongue has a sweet taste in the back. Does any of this sound familiar? If so, you may have a tooth that needs root canal treatment.
You can go to Antigo general dentistry for determining your need for root canal treatment. Root canal treatment involves the removal of the infected nerve and tissue inside the tooth and then filling it with a material that will ensure your tooth isn’t further damaged. There are a few other symptoms that you should be aware of if you are experiencing pain, sensitivity to hot and cold, or a more severe case of toothache.
Following are some of the telltale symptoms that you need a root canal.
- Persistent pain
Your tooth is infected, whether it be from decay, inflammation, or trauma. Pain is certainly one sign that needs to be looked at. An infection can release substances like spirochetes, which can cause pain and nerve damage. Pain and sensitivity are not normal symptoms of a root canal treatment but are sure signs that you should have it.
- Sensitivity to heat and cold
If you’re sensitive to heat and cold, this is also a sign that something is wrong with your tooth. Sensitivity to hot and cold signs can be treated through the use of an over-the-counter chemical called an anesthetic. It works by numbing your nerve cells so that you won’t feel pain. However, only root canal therapy is the permanent solution for sensitivity.
- Tooth discoloration
Discoloration of the tooth is also a sign that you need a root canal. The darkening of the tooth indicates that it is decaying from the inside. If the nerve tissue has been damaged due to trauma, there won’t be enough blood flow inside the tooth to provide oxygen, causing it to turn grey.
- Swollen gums
Infections in the teeth can also swell your gums and cause pain. This happens because the inflammation in the tooth will spread to nearby tissues, causing them to swell. Your gums will become redder, and you’ll experience pain.
- Pain when you eat or touch the root
If you have a toothache, the pain can be very strong. If you try to gently touch or bite down on the root, there will be a sharp pain. If the nerve tissue inside the tooth is inflamed, touching it will cause severe pain. It’s best to stay away from this area when eating and talking.
- Tooth mobility
Tooth mobility is a sign that you have a tooth infection. This can be very painful but isn’t life-threatening. Your tooth may be in an extreme situation of the nerve tissue on either side of the pulp having been destroyed.