Five Warning Signs That You Need A Root Canal Treatment

Are you suffering from a toothache? It’s time to get a root canal treatment before it’s too late. Root canal treatment is a dental procedure that cleans the infection in your tooth. Without treatment, disease or decay can spread inside your teeth, resulting in tooth extraction. 

Typically, a dentist has to diagnose whether you need a root canal treatment. Nevertheless, you must be vigilant in observing the other warning signs of tooth infection. Here are the other warning signs that you need a root canal treatment :

1. Can cold or hot food make your teeth sensitive?

Do you remember eating warm food or cold food and suddenly feeling your tooth hurting? When this occurs, you must be, and the pain persists even after you have stopped eating and drinking. The blood vessels inside your teeth may be infected. Don’t disregard this symptom and visit your dentist immediately for a root canal treatment.

2. Are your gums swollen?

Try checking your gums. Are your gums soft when you touch them? Do you feel any pain when you brush your gums? Swollen gums are a sign that the pulp of your tooth is infected. When this happens, you must visit your dentist as soon as possible. 

3. Does your toothache linger after several days?

Experiencing toothache for an extended period can leave you feeling helpless. Having persistent pain that seems endless is a different matter. You may sometimes feel pain running down the bone in your teeth and jaw. If you experience this, this is an indication that your root canal is infected. The best thing you can do is consult your dentist. 

4. Is your tooth chipped or cracked?

Have you seen any cracks in your teeth? Infected pulp can cause the pulp of the tooth to become inflamed, causing cracked teeth. Your dentist will conduct a root canal treatment to save the remaining part of your teeth. 

5. Your dentist noticed boils in your gums. 

The cause of gum boils an infection in your teeth. Gum boils occur when the pus penetrates the soft tissues in your teeth. In addition, pus can cause swelling of your gums. Your dentist may perform a root canal treatment depending on their findings.

Why is getting a root canal treatment good for you?

Are you still not convinced on how a root canal can save your teeth? Here are some pros of root canal treatment that you should not ignore.

• Infections do not spread to the rest of your teeth.
• You will have better oral health.
• There is no risk of damage to your jawbone. 
• It reduces discomfort and pain to any patient
• Comparatively, it’s cheaper than dental implants and less painful than a tooth extraction.

What to expect during a root canal procedure

The thought of getting a root canal scares a lot of people. Root canal treatment isn’t complicated, and depending on the situation, it may not require more than a few visits. Here are the steps in a root canal treatment.

1. To determine the extent of decay or infection, your dentist performs an X-ray.
2. Using local anesthesia, your dentist numbs the area of the affected tooth. 
3. To remove the damaged pulp, your dentist drills a hole in your tooth. 
4. After removing all the infected teeth, your dentist will seal the tooth with a filling that temporarily protects it until your customized crown is ready. 
5. When you have a root canal, the last step is when your dentist places a crown on your tooth to help restore it. 

Your root canal recovery

You will receive instructions from your dentist on how to take care of your teeth after your treatment. Following your root canal treatment, consider these tips to help you get back to normal as soon as possible. 

• Make sure to elevate your head when you sleep. In this way, you will feel less pain. 
• Gargle warm salt water regularly to keep your mouth clean and help in healing. 
• Eating ice cream after the root canal treatment will help reduce the inflammation.
• For the first few days after your treatment, avoid eating sticky and hard foods since they can cause inflammation in your gums. Drinking hot beverages is also prohibited.
• For a couple of days, refrain from physically demanding activities

Root canal treatment varies depending on the severity of your tooth infection. If you exhibit any warning signs in this article,  contact your Newmarket dentist to provide you with treatment options.