Signs You May Need to Have a Tooth Pulled

Do you have tooth sensitivity or mild tooth pain? We often ignore these symptoms, thinking they’re just signs of aging or something minor. But sometimes, a serious threat might be underway. The small changes you notice in your dental health whether it’s your breath, an unusual odour, or the colour of your gums, can be red flags, signalling a serious dental problem growing underneath. Ignoring these early signs can lead to serious infection or gum disease. In this blog post, we’re going to discuss the top signs that indicate you might need to get a tooth pulled. Check it out now, so if you notice any of these issues, you’ll know exactly what to do before things get worse.

Swollen Gums

Swollen gums are like the flashing red light you should never ignore. Sure, they can occur for a variety of reasons, including vitamin deficiencies, gingivitis, and chronic health issues, but rather than guessing, you should have your condition evaluated by a dentist. Swollen gums are never just a casual thing. We are saying this because gingivitis is the earliest stage of gum disease. If neglected, it can advance to periodontitis, which leads to significant damage to the gum tissues and the underlying bone. This is the stage where your gums, the bone beneath and the tissues start to deteriorate and can no longer hold your teeth in place.  Swollen gums do not necessarily mean you need tooth extraction. However, they are a warning sign indicating that something is wrong.

Tooth Decay

Tooth decay often begins in a small, almost unnoticeable way. It starts when sticky film of bacteria known as plaque starts to build up on your teeth. The bacteria start producing acids, attacking the protective layer of teeth (enamel) and causing it to lose minerals. 

At first, decay only affects the enamel. With prolonged progression, it can penetrate further, involving the dentin layer. Eventually, your tooth pulp, where the tooth’s nerves and blood vessels are located, gets exposed to bacteria. At this point, your tooth is severely infected and needs to be pulled out; otherwise, the infection can spread to the adjacent teeth. 

Extreme Pain

Severe and persistent tooth pain is one of the most evident indicators of underlying issues within the tooth structure.

While minor sensitivity to hot or cold foods can sometimes be managed with simple treatments, consistent and extreme pain usually points to a deeper issue. It could be a sign of advanced decay, infection or damage to the tooth’s nerve.

If you feel sharp pain upon biting down, that means your tooth pulp is infected or inflamed. In some cases, root canal therapy can save the tooth by eliminating the infected pulp and sealing the tooth. But when the infection has already spread out and it can pose to the structural integrity of your jaw or the rest of the teeth, extraction may be necessary. 

Ignoring extreme pain can lead to more serious complications, including abscess, bone loss and systemic infections. Seeking prompt dental evaluation is crucial to determine whether the tooth can be preserved or needs to be removed to protect your overall health.

Wisdom Tooth Impaction

Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars. They are notorious for causing a lot of discomfort and pain. Because in many cases, when they erupt, there is not enough for them to come out properly. Consequently, they become impacted, which means they either erupt partially or are fully trapped beneath the gum line, or are angled incorrectly.

Impacted wisdom teeth cause many problems. You may experience pain due to inflamed tissue over the impacted area, which can lead to swelling and infection. Impacted wisdom teeth can also cause damage to neighbouring teeth, as they exert pressure, potentially leading to inflammation and infection, which may eventually result in a painful abscess.

If left untreated, an impacted wisdom tooth can lead to more severe issues such as tooth decay, gum disease, and cyst formation. Depending on the severity of the impaction, extraction is often recommended to prevent further complications. Removing an impacted wisdom tooth is a routine procedure that can alleviate pain and protect the overall health of your mouth.

Abscess

When dental conditions are left untreated, tooth decay or gum disease progress, they can sometimes cause a dental abscess. It is a localized infection that occurs when bacteria infiltrate the soft tissues inside a tooth or the gums surrounding it. When bacteria invade the pulp of the tooth or surrounding tissues, the body responds by creating pus, which leads to the formation of an abscess.

Symptoms of a tooth abscess include severe, throbbing pain, sensitivity to hot and cold, swelling in the affected area, and sometimes fever. In more severe cases, the infection can even spread to nearby teeth. 

If an abscess is not addressed promptly, the infection can progress, potentially affecting the jawbone and other teeth. The spread of infection could lead to systemic issues, such as cellulitis or sepsis, both of which can pose serious health risks. 

A dental abscess is typically treated by draining the pus and administering antibiotics to manage the infection. In some cases, a root canal procedure may be needed to save the tooth. However, if the tooth is too severely damaged or the infection is too severe, extraction is necessary to save other teeth from the risk of infection.

What to Do When You Spot These Signs?

If you notice any of the signs discussed in this blog post, you should take action promptly. In cases like these, Emergency Dental 365 can be your saviour. Our dentists are handle to emergency situations such as wisdom tooth extractions, root canals, tooth extractions, and abscesses.