Tooth pain is your body's way of telling you something is wrong — and one of the most common causes of persistent tooth pain is an infected or inflamed pulp, the soft tissue inside your tooth. Here are five signs it might be time to see a dentist about root canal treatment.
1. Persistent or Severe Tooth Pain
Pain that lingers for more than a day or two, especially pain that throbs or worsens when you bite down, is one of the clearest signs of pulp infection or inflammation.
2. Sensitivity to Hot and Cold That Lingers
If discomfort continues for 30 seconds or more after the hot or cold stimulus is removed, it often means the nerve inside the tooth is damaged or infected.
3. Swelling or Tenderness in the Gums
Swollen, tender, or discolored gums near a specific tooth can indicate an abscess — a pocket of infection at the root tip.
4. A Darkening or Discolored Tooth
When the internal tissue of a tooth dies, the tooth can appear grey, yellow, or dark compared to the teeth around it.
5. A Recurring Pimple on the Gums
A small, recurring bump on the gum near a tooth is often a drainage point for a chronic infection at the tooth root.
Is Root Canal Treatment Painful?
This is the most common myth we hear from patients. Modern root canal treatment, done under local anesthesia with precise, minimally invasive tools, is no more uncomfortable than getting a filling. It actually relieves the pain caused by the infection, rather than causing it.
Book a consultation today if you're noticing any of these symptoms, and let us assess whether root canal treatment is right for you.