A root canal is one of the most important dental procedures and it cleans debris out of the pulp and root of your tooth. A typical tooth consists of an outer layer called enamel, a middle one known as dentin, and a soft one that extends from the root of your to the jawbone. The core of your tooth is composed of dental pulp i.e. nerves, connective tissues, and blood vessels.
When your tooth gets decayed, the softcore or the third layer gets affected, causing inflammation, infection, and necrosis inside the root of the affected tooth. This where a root canal is required, as you need to clean out all the debris caused by your decayed tooth and prevent the adjacent dental structures from meeting the same fate.
So, how can a layman understand what a root canal is when they need it? Keep reading this blog, for we have collected some easy-to-detect symptoms that indicate that you require a root canal and therefore you need to seek an emergency dentist in Manchester.
Common symptoms of root canal
Although, the only reliable way to determine if you need a root canal or not is by paying a visit to a good dentist. However, one should know their body and if observed keenly you would easily identify some common warning signs to look for.
If you find any of the symptoms mentioned below, you ought not to wait and see a dentist as soon as possible, because the sooner you would take action the more would be the chances of saving your affected tooth and the teeth adjacent to it.
- Constant pain
Pain is the most common indication of the root canal that must never be overlooked. Especially if the pain does not seem to ebb away or return from time to time, one ought not to ignore it.
The pain does not necessarily have to come out of your tooth for you to take it seriously, as persistent pain from your face and jaw is also a significant symptom.
- Sensitivity to cold, heat, and sweet
Do you find your tooth aching, every time you eat something warm, cold, or a bit sweet?
If so, take it as a clear indication of a root canal. Sensitivity could range from dull pain to a sharp unbearable ache. Therefore, you must not wait for sensitivity to worsen, because time can increase the sensitivity to a point that you would not be able to eat or drink anything!
Sensitivity to hot or cold is usually because of damage or infection in your nerves and blood vessels.
- Tooth discolouration
Any sort of infection in the pulp of the tooth can lead to tooth discolouration. Especially tooth trauma or injury to the internal soft tissues give your teeth a grey or black appearance. Although there are numerous reasons why your teeth have started to lose their colour, you should also take it as a serious indication of a root canal.
- Swollen gums
Swollen gums are an obvious sign that you need to get a root canal. Although the swelling might come and go, it can be tender and very painful if it comes into contact with any object.
Other than a root canal, swelling gums may also indicate other conditions, such as gum boil, abscess, etc.
Gumboil or gum pimple might seem tiny and least problematic, it should be given a proper inspection and treatment. That is because the pimple oozes pus from the infected tooth, leading to bad breath and unpleasant taste in your mouth.
- A chipped or cracked tooth
A chipped or cracked tooth is only perceived as visually displeasing, however, it can wreak havoc in your mouth and your oral health. If you have cracked your tooth either because of an accident or by chewing something too hard, pathogens can set in the vacant space and infect your teeth.
These 5 listed symptoms of a root canal are the obvious ones, however, many other indications apparently do not reveal themselves, or only appear when the situation gets out of hand. Therefore, it is only prudent to go for a dental checkup once a month or at least once every year.