Tooth pain has a way of showing up at the worst possible time — and it’s easy to brush off as “just sensitivity” until it isn’t. Here are five signs that it might be more than a passing ache.
Lingering sensitivity to hot or cold. A quick zing from ice cream is normal. Pain that lingers for 30 seconds or more after you finish eating or drinking is not — it often means the nerve inside the tooth is inflamed or infected.
A dull ache that won’t settle. Sharp pain gets your attention right away, but a constant, low-grade ache — especially one that throbs when you lie down — is just as worth checking out.
Swelling or tenderness in the gums. Swelling near a specific tooth, or a small bump on the gum that looks like a pimple, can be a sign of infection at the root.
Discoloration. A tooth that’s turned noticeably darker than the ones next to it can mean the tissue inside has been damaged.
Pain when you bite down. If chewing on one particular tooth is uncomfortable or painful, the nerve may already be compromised.
None of these on their own means you definitely need a root canal — but any one of them is a good reason to get looked at before it turns into an emergency. At Go Dental, every new patient starts with a free consultation and a digital X-ray, so we can tell you exactly what’s going on before any treatment begins.