If you bite into a fresh apple and feel a sharp pain, or gulp an icy glass of soda and want to scream, the nerve pulp inside your tooth may be infected or inflamed. And, if that’s the case, the solution is a root canal.
While the words root canal may conjure anxiety, they shouldn’t. Dentists perform more than 15 million root canals in the U.S. annually. Not only is the procedure highly tolerable, it saves teeth from extraction.
A root canal, or endodontic therapy, removes a tooth's infected nerve or pulp and seals the tooth to prevent further damage or future infections. The nerve or pulp generally becomes infected after a tooth decays or is injured or cracked.
Here are five symptoms that indicate you may need one and should visit Dr. Huang immediately.
Any unexplained toothache is a good reason to visit your dentist. If you feel a persistent dull ache, a sharp or shooting pain, or another form of pain, you may have an infection in the nerve of your tooth.
You may also have an injury to the tooth, potentially leading to infections and damaged nerves.
Most people experience slight sensitivity to extreme temperatures, especially when biting down on hot or cold foods directly. For instance, biting into ice cream often hurts teeth — this kind of sensitivity is typical when it’s bearable and short-lived.
If you experience extreme sensitivity to hot or cold or sensitivity that lasts for hours after such exposure, you may have an infected tooth and need a root canal.
Most people experience an expected response to pressure. Your teeth likely hurt if you bite down on something too complex. That’s a normal pain response.
But if you feel pain in response to moderate or light pressures, such as chewing soft foods, you may need a root canal. Extreme sensitivity to pressure often indicates something is amiss.
Unexplained yellowing or browning of your tooth may mean it’s infected. Surface stains, such as those from coffee and red wine, can be erased with whitening kits (and sometimes with daily brushing). Actual discoloration of a tooth occurs from within, and you can’t brush it away.
Discoloration can mean your tooth is dying, so getting a root canal as soon as possible is critical.
If your gums are inflamed, tender, or red, check in with your dentist — especially if the inflammation or tenderness is persistent. Gingivitis is the most common cause of swollen gums, but infections can also cause gum inflammation.
Infections that spread to the nerve or pulp of your tooth can necessitate a root canal.
If you’re suffering any of these symptoms, don’t wait. Book an appointment with Dr. Huang today. Call to schedule a consultation, or use our online inquiry form.
