Suffering from a major toothache usually leads to a visit to the dentist. In many cases, toothache pain is caused by an infection inside the pulp and roots of a tooth, and the solution for the problem is generally a root canal. Many people are frightened of this word because of the pain and costs, but it is better to get this done if needed, because the problem will not go away on its own. In fact, it could lead to the following three problems.

You Could Continuously Have Pain and Discomfort

When a tooth needs a root canal, it is usually because the tooth has decay on it. When decay is present, germs and bacteria can get inside the tooth causing an infection to form inside of it. This is where the toothache pain comes from, but this is not the only type of pain and discomfort you may feel.

You may also feel a lot of sensitivity to hot and cold with this tooth. This usually occurs because the dentin (which is the layer of tooth under the enamel) is exposed. This layer of tooth becomes exposed when enamel wears off, which gradually happens as decay takes over a tooth.

It may also be a tooth you avoid using while you eat, simply because the tooth is sensitive or painful to use for this purpose. The toothache pain could go away on its own, or with the help of an antibiotic, but it is likely to reappear from time to time. This happens because there is tissue that drains the infection from the tooth sometimes. When the infection leaves the area, the pain will be gone, but it will return whenever the infection returns.

You May Eventually Lose the Tooth

The second problem you could encounter with this particular tooth is that you are more prone to losing this tooth in the future. When teeth are not taken care of properly, they will not last. Anytime a tooth has infected pulp, the tooth has a problem. Generally, it is decay on the tooth that has led to the inside becoming infected, but gum disease can also lead to needing a root canal.

No matter what caused the infection to occur, treatment is necessary if you want to keep the tooth. A root canal is the procedure used for this because its purpose is to clean out the inside of a tooth and its roots. All decay, bacteria, and infected tissues are removed during this. While a root canal often requires removing a portion of a tooth, it will save the majority of it.

Without a root canal, the tooth may eventually wear away, leaving you with only one option–get it extracted. If this is what it comes down to, you may end up spending a lot more money on a tooth replacement for this missing tooth.

It Could Lead To Other Health Problems

The final thing you should know is that leaving a tooth like this untreated could lead to other health problems. The infection inside the tooth is not likely to stay in this area. Instead, it will move to other parts of the body, including the:

• Heart – Bacteria can easily spread to the heart through your bloodstream. If this happens, it could lead to an infection in the heart, which is called bacterial endocarditis.
• Brain – It can also spread into your brain, leading you to experience many types of problems, including a coma.
• Sinus cavities – The infection could also lead into your sinus cavities, causing you to experience sinus issues.

The only way to avoid these problems in the future is to go through with the root canal procedure. Getting a root canal is not as bad as it once was, and you can make an appointment with a dentist to get one soon.

For more information, contact a local dental clinic like Rose City Dental Care.