Root Canal Causes and Symptoms

Brushing and flossing your teeth twice a day is an easy way to keep your teeth and gums healthy. However, issues with the tooth’s base — the part beneath our gums and into our facial bones — occur infrequently, and a more specialized treatment is required to restore your teeth to good health and keep them in your mouth. This is where the Root Canal comes into play.

What is a Root Canal Procedure?

To understand the procedure known as a Root Canal, you must first understand the portion of the tooth referred to as a Root Canal. It is a section on the inside of the tooth between the mash (which contains nerves, veins, and connective tissue) and the base of the tooth — or you can think of it as the slide through which blood and nerves enter your body. Regardless, root canal treatment is more akin to brushing within a container. To remove contaminated or damaged mash, a flimsy instrument is inserted through the crown, or top, of the tooth. It is then filled with composite material and sealed with concrete on the crown of the tooth to prevent spit and microorganisms from entering. A crown and, on occasion, a post are embedded to further secure your tooth.

What Is the Cause of Root Canal?

Although there are numerous reasons why an individual may require a Root Canal, they frequently revert to rot. In most cases, tooth decay is prevented by maintaining proper oral hygiene. Rot occurs when plaque forms on the teeth and converts sugars to corrosive, causing the teeth and gums to disintegrate.

However, tooth decay can be caused by factors other than lax brushing habits. Damage to the teeth, such as chipping or breaking, can result in rot, as it exposes a greater portion of the tooth to microbes. The chips or breaks can occur as a result of normal mileage over time, or as a result of a mishap or mouth injury. On a more serious note, these wounds are not always visible; rather, the mash of the tooth is harmed, contaminating it. Other dental systems, such as fillings or a broken crown, can also have an effect on the mash.

Finally, anything that weakens or breaks the tooth’s protective layers can result in rot or more serious diseases, necessitating a Root Canal. Actual tests and x-rays determine whether someone requires one.

What Are the Root Canal Symptoms?

Occasionally, the sole indication of the need for a Root Canal is pain. It could be experienced while eating or drinking something hot or cold. It may also manifest itself when you chomp down or focus your attention on the tooth. However, any tooth torment that lasts longer than a day should be treated immediately — because occasionally, there is no agony following torment, which is not always a good sign.

The agony you feel prior to requiring a Root Canal is due to contaminated pulp inside your tooth. When the disease progresses or is not treated, the mash can crumble, and within the mash are the nerves of your tooth. Absence of agony may lead you to believe the issue has resolved itself, which is not always the case. Additionally, as the contamination progresses, the following symptoms may manifest: swollen, delicate gums; obscuring or changing the shade of the tooth due to the absence of blood flow; or a boil where discharge spills from the tainted region. Refusing to address these side effects for an extended period of time may mean that an extraction, rather than a Root Canal, is the sole treatment option.

What is an Endodontist?

You’re already familiar with dental specialists if you’ve arrived here. They’re the professionals who keep your mouth in tip-top shape twice a year, if you follow our general recommendations. Occasionally, however, our oral health requires the expertise of a subject matter expert, such as an orthodontist, periodontist, maxillofacial specialist, or endodontist. The following information should be reviewed prior to consulting an endodontist.

Dentist or Endodontist?

Endo is derived from the Greek word for “inside,” and thus endodontics is concerned with what occurs inside your tooth: the nerves and veins, as well as the pathway they use to exit the tooth and reach the rest of your body. An endodontist begins his or her career as a dental specialist and then devotes several years to diagnosing and treating tooth pain and performing root canals. These are probably the most specialized dental specialists available; their training is based on deft dexterity and staying current with technological advancements. Given the additional time and ability required, only about 3% of dental specialists continue on to become endodontists — and with proper care of your teeth and gums, it’s unlikely you’ll encounter one during your lifetime.

How Do Endodontists React?

Diagnosing and treating pain is an extremely straightforward explanation of an endodontist’s mind-boggling position. These specialists are occasionally referred to as “teeth savers” due to their willingness to treat even the most infected tooth rather than extract it. Your discomfort, or in some cases a sensitivity to hot and cold, could be the result of rot, a tooth break, or a disease. Endodontists use x-rays and actual tests to determine the source of the pain. They may discover that the mash (nerves and veins within your tooth) has been excited, contaminated, and has been harmed inadvertently or irreversibly.

After resolving the source of the pain, an endodontist can perform a variety of procedures, the most well-known or recognizable of which is a root canal. This is an authentic treatment, but with a straightforward explanation. Consider cleaning within a jug: a small hole is made on the crown of your tooth and an instrument is strung through to clean the difficult-to-reach interior first and then occupy the space.

Occasionally, following a root canal, the endodontist should perform a retreatment, in which the filling is removed and the space is cleaned and filled later. Occasionally, the specialist may need to perform a medical procedure if pain or infection persists around the lower portion of the tooth following root canal therapy. Fortunately, innovation has reduced the obtrusiveness of these techniques to a minimum, and you will not experience significant uneasiness.

So, in short, an endodontist is a dental specialist with advanced training. Endodontists are specialists in complex tooth problems affecting the tooth pulp (the inside of teeth).
A specialist in diagnosing and treating this type of pain is an endodontist.

When Is the Appropriate Time to See an Endodontist?

Not all dental pain is the same, so before rushing to a trained professional, consult with your dental specialist to determine the best course of action. If you notice that the torment travels in all directions with hot or cold food and beverages, you can begin by switching to a toothpaste designed for tooth affectability to see if that makes a difference. Dull, aching agony may be a sign of TMJ, which is especially noticeable when pushed. Nonetheless, any continuous shooting or piercing torment should prompt a visit to a dental specialist.

Additionally, any time your tooth or teeth are broken, transformed into a boil (swollen, occasionally with discharge clearly overflowing from the region), or are significantly harmed, or are extracted entirely, a visit to the endodontist is recommended. For instance, if you sustain a jaw injury in an auto accident and your teeth become dislodged, swollen, or painful, or if your child’s head protector is smashed off in an ice hockey arena, you should consult an endodontist.

How To Whiten Teeth

There are so many ways to whiten teeth, and it may be very difficult to choose the best option.  I want to urge you to read the article “What Causes Tooth Discoloration” as it is generally harder to treat intrinsic staining than extrinsic staining.  The second big factor is the cost of the treatment.

If you want to know how to whiten teeth, the  following options are available:

  • Professional teeth whitening. This is usually the most effective but unfortunately also the most expensive choice.  If you find that you teeth are a dark shade, even after a thorough professional clean, I would suggest that you get your teeth professionally bleached.  Bleaching can be done in the dentist’s office within a single appointment, or with the use of custom made bleaching trays and bleach to use at home.  Often a combination of both gets even better results.
  • Teeth whitening at home. If a person needs a more affordable option, this could be your answer!  Although some of the products still seem expensive, you may be able to get a very good result without having to pay your dentist as well.
  • Natural Teeth Whitening. A lot of people may feel more comfortable using more natural methods and products to whiten their teeth.  This will probably be the cheapest option. I do however want to caution people on the use of some of the natural whitening methods.  Natural doesn’t necessarily mean it is safe or healthy!  Some methods can be very abrasive (scratching away the tooth surface) or erosive (acidic agents damaging the enamel or exposed dentin).

How to Whiten Teeth with Specific Stained Areas

You may be satisfied with the general shade of your teeth but concerned about specific stained areas, typically due to tobacco, tee, coffee, wine or tatar build-up.  If that is the case, please to not  go for the usual bleaching treatments (professional or DIY bleaching) with Hydrogen peroxide or Carbamide peroxide (which breaks down into hydrogen peroxide) immediately.  Keep in mind that these products have risks, especially in high concentrations of which the most common problems are tooth sensitivity and gum irritation.  I would suggest the following:

Sonicare Toothbrush

Philips Sonicare Toothbrush

  • See an Oral hygienist or Dentist for a Scale and Polish. They use an ultrasonic instrument to remove the stubborn tatar and stains and then polish the teeth with an abrasive polishing paste to remove even more superficial staining.  If they see that your problem is due to discolored fillings, the fillings can be polished or replaced.  They may also find that a dark area is actually tooth decay which needs restoration.
  • Buy a good quality electric toothbrush to keep your teeth clean and stain free. Personally I like the sonic toothbrushes.  They move with very quick strokes, helping to clean in the hard to reach areas like between the teeth and along the gumline.  An example of such a toothbrush is a Philips Sonicare Toothbrush.  If used correctly it can remove up to 6 times more plaque than a manual toothbrush due to the sonic technology, with brush strokes up to 31000 per minute.
  • Use toothpaste that will help to keep your teeth and gums healthy and help to prevent the build-up of tatar. Some toothpastes also assist in removing stains.  Colgate TotalPlus Whitening Toothpaste is such a toothpaste.  It has a combination of triclosan for gingivitis protection and fluoride for cavity protection.   It has a breakthrough cleaning ingredient to whiten your teeth by gently removing surface stains.

    Tooth Stain Eraser

    Tooth Stain Eraser

  • Stubborn stains may need more persuasion to disappear or to stay away. Especially tobacco users may find this gadget helpful:  Staino S1655 Tooth Stain Eraser, 2tips/unit.  It’s sold by KleenTeeth or Amazon.  It is the same tooth stain removing rubber polishing tips that dentists have used for years.  You can safely remove surface stains with Staino’s dual-ended Tooth Stain Eraser.
  • If you still don’t have the results you were hoping for, try a Teeth Whitening Pen. The ‘pen’ contains whitening ingredients which you can easily apply in exactly the spots you want whitened.If you prefer something with natural ingredients and Peroxide free, try : Teeth Whitening Gel Pen By Emoyeni. It is made in the USA and they claim that it doesn’t just whiten teeth but also improves the health of your teeth and gums.  Plant based glycerine and natural products (no animal products) are used.It is EU Safety regulations approved and 100% Kosher Grade.  For quicker results, perhaps after only 2 days, you can try something like ‘Finishing Touch Smile Whitening Pen (.11 oz).I found this review regarding the Finishing Touch Smile Whitening Pen, by a customer on Amazon: By mommx3 on February 21, 2013:”This is easier to apply than any other whitening product I have ever tried. You just paint it on, and you can apply it between teeth for hard to reach areas (that the trays could never get to). My oldest daughter and I have both used it and after 3 applications, our teeth are already whiter. We have not had any sensitivity at all with this product. It tastes great and the best part is that it dries so fast that you can go about your day and never notice it after 30 seconds. You don’t ever have to rinse it out and it leaves no build up. It’s awesome. Now I can whiten my teeth anytime, anywhere. I got mine at Walgreens for $9.99. I will definitely stock up on this. Tip – make sure your teeth are dry before you apply it. Especially your bottom teeth (I spit really well and then swab inside my lower lip with a q-tip to make sure they are dry) . You should hold your lips open with your fingers so your teeth can dry for 30 seconds before closing your mouth. It works!”If you are still not satisfied with the results, bleaching your teeth is probably your next step.  How to whiten your teeth with bleaching agents will be explained in the articles to follow.  There is also very important information regarding teeth whitening in the articles;