Root canals are an easy, painless, and effective method of dealing with uncomfortable toothaches, though if you have spent any amount of time talking with the average person about them, that probably isn’t what you’ve heard. You may have been tempted to avoid a root canal, and instead decided to live with a toothache.
If you have, it’s possible that you could have found that your toothache has stopped hurting. However, despite what you may imagine, this isn’t necessarily a good thing. Here’s why that could happen, and what you should do about it.
Why Can’t I Feel My Toothache Anymore?
One of the most common reasons that people develop a toothache has a lot to do with an infection that has crept within the tooth. These infections can begin to attack the root pulp, which is where the pain comes from.
Unfortunately, the body isn’t capable of fighting off oral infection on its own—the bacteria in the mouth will only grow stronger with time. Eventually, these bacteria may damage the root pulp to such an extent that the nerve tissue within the tooth dies. As a consequence, you may no longer be able to feel any pain at all.
If you’ve found that your toothache seems to suddenly disappear after having gradually gotten worse for several weeks, it’s likely that something like this has happened to you.
What Should I Do? Do I Still Need a Root Canal?
Even if you can no longer feel your toothache, you still need to talk to a dentist about it. As you now know, a toothache fading doesn’t mean that it’s gone; in fact, it may be worse now than ever.
If the disease is allowed to fester, it may spread to other teeth and cause the already-infected tooth to fall out completely. A root canal is the best way to deal with an infection like this, so there’s no real reason to wait. Give your dentist a call and start to take charge of your oral health.
About the Author
Dr. Niki Jayswal loves dentistry for its ability to allow her to use her artistic sensibilities to be able to help people. She makes it a point to treat every patient that she meets as if they were her own family members. Dr. Jayswal received her dental degree from the University of Southern California School of Dentistry, where she received the Omicron Kappa Upsilon Award for her treatment. She is currently a member of the American Dental Association and the Dallas County Dental Society.
If you have any questions about toothaches or root canals, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (972) 366-4452.