When someone mentions root canals, a few people shiver because of how scary the procedure sounds. The truth is a chunk of people are scared of root canals, yet they can be needed at times. The following are signs that you may need one.
Persistent Pain
One common sign you need a root canal is pain. Blood vessels or nerves are inflamed, which is causing the pain. This is probably happening because there’s an infection in the area that needs to be taken care of by a dentist as soon as possible. A root canal might be able to deal with this problem, and it should take away the pain you’re experiencing. It’s only going to get worse the longer you wait, so this is something you don’t want to put off.
Damaged Tooth
A damaged tooth could be the reason you need to have a root canal. A chip or crack might expose the root of your teeth. If this happens, the likelihood of getting an infection is pretty high. Once the infection starts, it won’t be long before you start to experience some pain. If you notice that your tooth is cracked or chipped and you’re not experiencing pain, you should still check because the risk is still there. Let a dentist take care of this risk before it becomes a problem for you.
Hot and Cold Sensitivity
Hot and cold sensitivity could be a sign of a problem. If you notice you’re eating or drinking on one side of your mouth to avoid pain, then you might need a root canal procedure. Hot and cold foods shouldn’t cause any discomfort, and if they do, then the issue could be damaged blood vessels or nerves. You want to do your best to have a dentist check this issue out for you. The issue is only going to get worse even if you’ve been getting around it by eating or drinking on the other side of your mouth.
Swollen Gums
Swollen gums are not a good sign. This might need to be addressed with a root canal, or it could be something else. You will have to see your oral specialist to confirm an issue. This is a symptom that has to be examined so that you know for sure what’s causing it and what you’ll need to do about it. The one thing you can be sure of is that this is a problem you should not ignore. You have to go in to see a dentist as soon as possible. Swollen gums are painful at times, and they can make your gums so sensitive that even brushing your teeth could cause you to bleed.
Dark Discoloration
Dark discoloration could also be telling you that you need to have a root canal. Of course, dark discoloration on your teeth could also happen because you ate something with a strong color, like blueberries or wine. The discoloration could also be caused by poor hygiene, but every so often, it happens because there’s nerve damage under the tooth. If this is the case for you, then it’s important to find out and address it with a root canal procedure.
A dentist is trying to protect your smile, and a root canal is one of the tools to do that. These procedures have gotten more advanced over the years. The pain folks had to go through before has been decreased, thanks to some of these advancements. Do your best to talk to your dentist about this procedure even if you’re scared.
