Five Tooth Troubles You Shouldn’t Ignore: When to Visit a Root Canal Dentist

Your tooth has several layers, including the enamel, dentin, and pulp. The pulp is at the center of your tooth and houses nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissues. Although the enamel (outer layer) protects the pulp from harmful bacteria, this hard protective layer can sometimes be breached by deep decay, cavities, and repeated dental work. When this happens, you’ll undoubtedly need a root canal because antibiotics and your body’s natural immunity can only do little to reverse the infection.

While only a dentist can determine the need for a root canal, certain symptoms may signal the need for this tooth-saving procedure. These include:

1. Severe toothache: Do you experience a persistent toothache that won’t yield to home remedies and over-the-counter painkillers? This could mean your tooth is infected, especially if the pain worsens when chewing or biting. An infected tooth often causes pressure or discomfort when used. That’s why you experience discomfort when you bite into something.
2. Extreme sensitivity to cold and hot foods: It’s common to experience a little twinge when you consume freezing substances. However, when you experience prolonged and consistent “twinge feeling” when consuming hot and cold substances, it’s a sign that your tooth is infected. This sensitivity might manifest as a sharp pain that lingers after consuming hot coffee or ice cream.
3. Tooth discoloration: While your teeth aren’t as white as you’d like, it should concern you when a single tooth has severe discoloration. When you notice one of your teeth is darker than the rest, it could be more than simply drinking too much wine or coffee. If your tooth appears dark or brown, the pulp is dying off because of infection and needs to be removed with a root canal.
4. Tender or swollen gums: The infection doesn’t just affect the tooth. It can spread to nearby structures, including the gums and face, often manifesting with swelling.
5. Pimple-like sores on the gums: A small, recurring pimple-like bump on the gums (gum boils) can be a sign of an abscess, indicating a more severe infection. This swelling forms as a response to trapped bacteria inside the gum tissue, typically from an infected tooth root. Gum boils are filled with pus, often indicating that the body is trying to drain the infection. You may notice it feels tender or painful, especially when pressure is applied, and it releases a foul taste if it ruptures.

If you suspect a tooth infection, contacting a dentist promptly is essential. Untreated infections can lead to severe complications, including abscesses, tooth loss, and systemic health issues if the bacteria spread through your bloodstream. Prompt dental care relieves the pain and protects your long-term oral health.