Tooth pain can be exasperating. Its intensity can range from barely perceptible to agonizing, but it’s difficult for the layperson to know exactly what’s wrong. One thing that anyone experiencing tooth pain should NOT do is ignore it. Here are four common causes of tooth pain, all of which can often require a root canal to address and treat the source of the pain properly.
4 Causes of Tooth Pain That Can’t Be Ignored
- Cavities – Tooth decay can cause holes in our teeth, which can make them sensitive and cause pain. Small cavities can be rectified with fillings, but if left untreated, they can cause serious infections that impact the roots of your teeth and require a root canal to fix.
- Chipped or cracked teeth – Even a tiny bit of damage to your tooth enamel can become a gateway for bacterial infection in your teeth. If the chip or crack leaves a jagged or sharp surface, the tooth can cause pain by lacerating your gums or tongue.
- Bruxism – Bruxism, or grinding one’s teeth, can cause serious pain from the act of clenching one’s jaw. The condition can also lead to cracked teeth, which can also let infection enter the tooth.
- Dental injuries – Any kind of violent impact to the face or mouth can cause pain and damage to the entire tooth, including its root.
Symptoms that may indicate a condition that may require a root canal to address them can include pain when pressure is applied to a tooth, pain that appears with hot or cold foods/drink and remains after the hot/cold stimulus is removed, a pimple-like bump on the gums, or a swelling of the gums near a tooth.
“Pain is our body’s early warning system, telling us something is wrong with our teeth,” says Dr. Jacqueline S. Allen, an endodontist who practices with the Phoenix Endodontic Group. “Root canals and other related treatments can provide prompt, lasting relief.”