Unfortunately, root canals are fairly common. I come across patients that need a root canal at least once per day. The hope for this post is to give you some signs and symptoms so you can avoid extreme tooth pain / sensitivity. Just like most things, the earlier things are caught...the better...and quite frankly the more predictable the treatment. So, let's get into it. Here are 5 things to look out for: root canal edition.
What is a Root Canal?
Before we dive in, let's briefly define a root canal. We discussed previously that, like onions, teeth have layers. A root canal is a procedure performed to remove the nerve and blood supply of a tooth that has become infected. In order to get to the canal of the tooth which houses the nerve we must go through the layers of the tooth.
Starting from the outside (what you can see in your mouth) your tooth is covered with enamel.
Enamel
This layer of the tooth is roughly 1-3 ish millimeters thick. This is the strongest substance in the human body. Enamel is pretty mighty. Typically, it appears translucent and sometimes has a bluish hue to it. Directly beneath the enamel layer is a layer called dentin.
Dentin
Dentin can be considered the middle part of the tooth. Dentin thickness varies a lot with the type of tooth, but let's use an average of 3 millimeters. Dentin encases the tooth pulp which is where the nerve of the tooth lives.
Pulp
This is the center most part of the tooth...kind of like the core of Mother Earth. This is where the blood supply and nerve of the tooth resides. The pulp of the tooth is how the tooth communicates with the rest of your body. The pulp is also called the nerve of the tooth.
Root Canal: Simple Definition
Okay, so now we are all on the same page. A root canal essentially removes the infected internal part of the tooth, sterilizes it, and seals it. This process removes the infected tissue and relieves the symptoms that you may feel...like... hot cold sensitivity, pain to biting, and sometimes even headaches.
Now here are 5 warning signs you may need a root canal.
#1 Lingering Pain After a Cold Drink
Personally, when I drink cold beverages I have some sensitivity to the temperature. This is normal for me and it usually subsides pretty quickly. So, it is important to know your "normal".
I have friends that have no problem biting into ice cream or chewing on ice. Their teeth are just unbothered by chilling temperatures.
The thing to look out for is a change in this normal. If you experience cold sensitivity that is stark and lingers longer than normal, this can mean your tooth is unhappy for whatever reason. This might be an early warning sign that something is happening with the nerve of the tooth that needs to be addressed by your dentist.
#2 Lingering Pain After a Hot Beverage
Just like cold beverages, it is important to know your normal state. But, if you are drinking a warm to hot beverage and notice a dull ache or sometimes even a sharp pain - there may be an infection brewing in the root of that tooth. Teeth often respond to temperature changes as an early sign of infection.
#3 It Becomes Hard to Eat on One Side of Your Mouth
Sometimes you may experience changes in the sensation of the teeth when you chew. It can be hard to differentiate which tooth is the problem and people sometimes complain about either pain to chewing on the left or right side. Pain to biting is often a sign that something may be wrong with your tooth.
#4 Random Dull Tooth Aches
Tooth pain - without a cause - is often a sign that a root canal is needed. Just like your arm shouldn't hurt independent of use, neither should your tooth. What I mean by this "unaggravated" tooth pain is pain that is coming from a tooth when it is not in use. Unfortunately, people often experience this when they are trying to sleep. It is important to get the tooth checked out as soon as possible, so the pain doesn't increase.
#5 Headaches
I know this sounds crazy, but the upper roots of your teeth are really close to your sinuses. This means that pain can be transferred vertically and can be expressed as a headache. This is very similar to what people often describe as sinus headaches. Oddly, this symptom can even be caused by infections in teeth of the lower jaw because of transferred pain.
Conclusion
The 5 indications above are some signs there may be an infection growing within your tooth. Hopefully, you can use these signs and symptoms and catch something early before it progresses into a major problem. It is always nice when we can avoid severe pain...but we need to know what to look out for.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms reach out to your dentist! If you are in the Portland area we would love to help you. Reach out to us with any questions!
Stay healthy!
Thanks for reading!
