When Do You Need a Root Canal? Signs and Symptoms to Watch For

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By Dentist At Plum Creek Kyle

Root canal therapy is a common and necessary dental procedure. Dental professionals conduct this procedure when an infection affects the core of your tooth, which is known as the dental pulp. The pulp contains your tooth’s blood vessels and nerve endings.

When your tooth gets fractured, chipped, or has cavities, it can become the entrance to the innermost layer of your tooth and let bacteria get in. It can lead to infected soft tissue and ultimately result in necrosis, which is the death of tissue and cells.

Professional dentists consider root canals for cleaning away this decay and saving your tooth prior to it having to be extracted or fall out. This guide will illustrate some major signs and symptoms of needing this therapy.

Signs and Symptoms of Root Canal

Below are some major signs and symptoms that indicate you may have a root canal procedure.

You Feel Pain in Your Tooth While Biting and Chewing

Imagine you bite down on a handful of tasty trail mix or a crisp apple, and you suddenly experience a jarring toothache. You will definitely not love it, right?

If you are encountering this type of pain, especially long after you stop chewing, it is a sign you should visit an endodontist to check for cavities, cracked teeth, or loose fillings. Moreover, this pain can point out inflammation around your roots and internal decay of your tooth pulp.

Usually, your dentin layers and enamel around healthy teeth safeguard the pulp chamber against infections. Bacteria will have the ability to infect this pulp chamber and lead to swelling and decay when this protective shield is compromised. This indicates the need for a root canal procedure.

Your Tooth is Cracked or Chipped

Sometimes, your teeth are not indestructible, no matter how much you wish it. For example, if you bite down on something hand or experience some sort of trauma while playing a contact sport, your tooth can chip. If you think of worse, it can fracture sometimes.

In this situation, you must schedule a root canal therapy in Kyle with a professional endodontist. Dental professionals will repair your damaged tooth soon. Otherwise, bacteria may build their nests and it can lead to painful infection and inflammation of your tooth’s inner nerves.

You Are Facing the Issue of Chronic Bad Breath

Picture this: you have brushed your teeth two times properly, flossed, and tried mouthwash. However, you still cannot shake your bad breath. If this happens, it can be a sign that you need a root canal. You tend to have a bacterial infection if your oral care routines cannot fix the problem.

The unpleasant odor occurs for the bacteria causing root canal infection. Sometimes, as it destroys your teeth, it leaves behind a bad taste in your mouth. You must get this issue mitigated as soon as possible for better oral health.

These are the major signs and symptoms of needing root canals. If you are confused about whether you need this treatment, you can get in touch with us. Our professionals have years of experience and expertise and can help you to address your problem effectively.