You need a root canal treatment when you are suffering from ‘pulpitis’. Pulpitis is the infection of the pulp, which is the innermost part of a tooth. From there, the infection drips down to the root of the tooth. While cavities and other forms of oral infection that occur on the surface of the tooth do not require surgeries, pulpitis cannot be treated without one. The treatment for pulpitis is known as root canal treatment. The following are the 6 common signs that you might need one!
1. Sensitivity to sweet food
Sweet foods have acids like Glycine and Alanine in them. They stimulate the sensory nerves in the pulp of the tooth. Since pulpitis damages these sensory nerves, you are likely to feel an increased sensitivity in one or more particular tooth/teeth when you have sweet food. This kind of sensitivity to sweet food is believed to be the primary symptom of pulpitis.
2. Sensitivity to hot and cold
This symptom too, is related to the damaged sensory nerves in the pulp, as a result of pulpitis. Our teeth are naturally sensitive to hot and cold sensations due to the sensory nerves. When these nerves are damaged, they become increasingly sensitive to these hot and cold sensations. You are likely to experience this increased sensitivity in one particular tooth if you indeed have pulpitis.
3. Mild to high fever
During pulpitis, it is needless to say that you would be having a lot of bacterial infection in your mouth. The immunity system of our bodies raises the body temperature to fight off these germs. Thus, you may experience some mild to high fever, depending upon the extent of the infection.
4. A persistent bad breath
If you have a bad breath that is persistent and doesn’t subside despite maintaining good oral hygiene, there is a slight chance that you might have pulpitis. However, you should not judge whether you have pulpitis, based on this single symptom. Most of the time, you get a persistent bad breath because of smoking. However, if you have a persistent bad taste in your mouth as well, that is when you should be concerned!
5. Oral bleeding
Pulpitis could also be associated with oral bleeding at times. However, this is indicative that the infection has become irreversibly bad and might as well have spread to surrounding areas. Irreversible pulpitis does not inevitably mean that the tooth won’t ever be healed. If you do suspect irreversible pulpitis in your tooth, consult a dentist immediately!
6. Swelling of lymph nodes
Lymph nodes are vital parts of our immunity systems. They release lymphatic fluids, which help in fighting bacteria and infection. Thus, lymph nodes become hyperactive when you have a lot of bacterial infection residing beneath your tooth, and swell up.
Pulpitis is a serious condition, which should not be left untreated. it poses serious risks to your dental health, which could prove to be irreversible in the future. Therefore, if you suspect that you have pulpitis, immediately book an appointment with a dentist.