Table of Contents
1. Tooth Pain
Tooth pain is one of the first signs that there is something wrong with your teeth. Severe tooth pain could be one of the signs that you may need a root canal treatment, especially if the pain you experience is not only in the tooth but also in the surrounding gumline.
Toothache normally occurs as a result of damage to the nerves located in the pulp of a tooth. The pain may intensify when eating or biting down. You may also experience a sensation of pain when you put pressure on the tooth or touch it.
Because there are many reasons why you could be experiencing oral pain, it is important to see a Southport dentist at the first sign of discomfort. When the pain you are experiencing is sharp and stabbing, chances are high that you may need a root canal treatment.
2. Sensitivity to Hot or Cold Food or Drinks
If your teeth feel sensitive when drinking or eating either cold or hot food or beverages, the cause could be an infected nerve in one or more teeth. People who have sensitive teeth normally experience slight discomfort throughout their entire mouth. If this is the case the discomfort will be subtle and subside quickly.
However, if there is an infection in one of your teeth the sensitivity will be much more pronounced. Pay attention to exactly where the discomfort is felt most. If you always feel pain around the same tooth, it may be necessary to have a root canal.
3. Swollen Gums
Gum inflammation is quite common and can be caused by a number of oral problems such as food stuck in the gum line, oral injury, or gingivitis. However, If the gum is swollen at the base of one particular tooth, there could be a bigger problem like an infection. If this is the case you may need a root canal.
If there is an infection there will be a sudden flare-up of inflammation whereas with other oral problems like gingivitis the swelling will be more widespread and gradual.
If you have swollen gums you should keep an eye on them. If it hasn’t disappeared within a week you should visit your dentist as soon as possible. If you experience intense pain around the swollen area, you may need a root canal treatment. If you are looking for a dentist that can do root canal treatment then I highly recommend Dentists in Fleet.
4. Sores on Your Gums
Canker sores on the gums are fairly common and can be caused by hot beverages or highly acidic foods. These gum sores normally disappear on their own after a short while.
However, the bacteria that is present when there is a gum infection can also cause sores. These look more like small pimples and usually appear beneath the surface of the gum line. These pimples contain bacteria and are similar to pimples that appear on the face. If they are caused by an infection they will keep on re-occurring in the same area. You may also feel pain in the area where these pimples appear.
If left untreated gum sores often increase in size and you may notice a foul taste in your mouth due to bacteria from the infection entering the oral cavity.
5. A Chipped Tooth
If you have had an oral injury and now have a chipped tooth, that tooth may be at greater risk of infection because it is much easier for bacteria to enter the soft tissue located deep inside the tooth. A chipped tooth can be caused by something minor like biting down too hard on something or due to a sports injury that is much more serious. Even a very small chip can make a tooth more susceptible to becoming infected.
Having a chipped tooth fixed as soon as possible will reduce the danger of possible infection. That is why it is very important to visit the dentist after an injury so that the chip can be repaired right away.
Even if there is no pain accompanying a chipped tooth, it should not be ignored. After an injury, the nerve of the tooth will be more vulnerable to infection which could occur much later.