You all know that to stay healthy, you must eat a balanced diet and exercise regularly. But do you know that an excellent oral regime is also critical for our teeth? If you do not brush and floss daily, it could lead to dental issues like tooth decay and cavities, and in some cases, a root canal treatment may be necessitated.

Understanding that your oral health and overall well-being are closely linked is also essential. If your dentition gets affected, the infection might propagate to other parts of your bodies and cause severe damage. 

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms described in the article, you must check with your dentist if you need root canal treatment.

What is a Root Canal?

Root canal treatment (also called endodontic therapy) is a standard dental procedure, and more than fifteen million people undergo this therapy every year. You need this treatment when the pulp or nerve inside a tooth gets infected due to decay, injury to the tooth, or cracking of the tooth.

• Our teeth have a hard enamel outside, another layer called dentin, and soft pulp or core inside it, which extends to the roots and our jawbones.
• The core of a tooth has dental pulp composed of blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissues.
• When decay enters the soft pulp, it can get inflamed or even dead (necrotic).
• The decay in the pulp needs to be removed, which is done by endodontic therapy, which consists of the following steps:
  • Your dentist would extract the decay and bacteria from the pulp, nerves, and root.
  • S/he will then disinfect the space with antibiotics.
  • The space is then filled with dental material.
  • The top of the tooth is then sealed to prevent further decay.

Signs Which Indicate You Need a Root Canal?

It is essential to understand the signs and symptoms of tooth decay as it can have severe consequences. Here are a few signs that might indicate you need endodontic treatment:

1. Persistent tooth pain – Severe tooth pain is the most common sign of need for root canal treatment. The pain is not just in the impacted tooth but also pervades the surrounding area on the gum line. When there is damage to the nerve near the root of a tooth, it causes pain in adjacent areas too. You would feel severe pain when you bite down on something or when you touch the infected tooth. Pain in the dental area can be of different types, but if you have stabbing and sharp pain, you most likely need endodontic therapy.
2. Teeth sensitivity – If your mouth feels extra sensitive while eating or drinking something hot or cold, then it might denote decay of nerve inside your teeth. Some people might just have sensitive teeth and always experience minor discomfort from extreme temperatures. But such discomfort is subtle, all through the mouth, and goes off quickly. But in case of an infection, the sensitivity is focused on an area around a specific tooth. In such cases, you must see your dentist to evaluate if you need a root canal.
3. Swollen gums – Inflamed gums can be a result of many diseases, such as gingivitis, injury to teeth, or food stuck in the gum line. But if the gums are swollen, specifically under a tooth, then it can be a reason to worry as it can denote infection. Infection usually causes sudden inflammation, but with other oral issues such as gingivitis, the infection progresses slowly and is widespread (not focused around a tooth). Keep an eye on a sudden swelling under a tooth, and if it does not go away in a week’s time, it is time to check with your doctor for a possible root canal treatment.
4. Discoloration of tooth – If the pulp of your tooth is infected, it can cause discoloration of your dentitions. The breakdown of the internal tissue due to trauma to the tooth would make your pearly whites appear greyish-black. This discoloration is more obvious in the anterior or front tooth. Tooth discoloration can have many causes, but it is better to get it assessed by your dentist to check if you need endodontic therapy.
5. Chipped tooth – If your tooth has chipped or cracked due to an accident, sports injury, or just by chewing on something hard, it will allow bacteria to set in and infect and inflame your tooth. Even if there are no chips or cracks in your tooth, if there has been an injury to your tooth, it can still damage your tooth’s nerves and may require a root canal.

Conclusion 

If you have an oral issue, you must stay vigilant and look for the five salient signs outlined above to know if your tooth has decayed and needs root canal treatment.