Toothache can affect one’s ability to eat, sleep, perform work, and focus on any other daily activity. People tend to look for toothache cure or tooth pain relief immediately in order to alleviate the pain. However, the persistent or severe tooth pain might indicate an existing dental issue that requires immediate attention. A frequently asked question concerns the need for a root canal in cases of severe toothache. The answer to this question is negative. There are many factors that might cause tooth pain. The reasons may include tooth decay, issues with the gums, cracked teeth, sensitivity, tooth trauma, and infection of the pulp inside a tooth. In order to decide on the procedure, a dental check and X-rays are required. What Causes a Severe Toothache? The definition of a toothache involves the irritation or inflammation of the nerve and tissue structures surrounding the tooth. It may be caused by tooth decay. As the process continues, it penetrates deeper into the structure until it reaches the pulp of the tooth, which contains nerves and blood vessels. When the pulp becomes infected or inflamed, then you may experience toothache. Some other causes may be a broken tooth, gum disease, abscess, exposed tooth roots, loose fillings and trauma to the tooth. Toothaches may sometimes occur due to problems with the wisdom teeth. This is why it should not be an automatic assumption that a severe toothache is always a root canal problem. Tooth Pain When Biting: What Could It Mean? Pain while biting and chewing is one of the vital symptoms that must not be overlooked. Pain from applying pressure on a certain tooth may be caused by decay, inflammation of the area around the tooth roots, a crack in the tooth, an infection, or issues with a dental restoration. The sharp pain when biting or lasting after biting is the reason to have yourself examined by a dentist. In some cases, such a symptom may arise due to inflammation of the tissues around the root in case of infection or damage of the pulp. The tooth can be inspected, its reaction to various stimuli observed, and an X-ray used if needed. Such an examination will help find out whether the issue can be solved using a filling or other methods or if root canal therapy will be required. Does Severe Toothache Mean You Need a Root Canal? Not necessarily. Root canals are performed when the pulp in the tooth has an irreversible inflammation or infection due to the above reasons.  Among the indicators that there might be an issue related to the dental pulp are continuous toothache, long-lasting sensitivity to hot and cold, discomfort in chewing, swelling in the area of the tooth, tenderness, and abscess in the gum tissue. Still, the above symptoms alone do not mean that a root canal is needed. A consultation by a dentist is needed to identify the reason for the pain. Home Remedies for Toothache: Can They Help? However, while there is no possibility to seek treatment at once, people start looking for home-based solutions for toothache pain relief. Though the following methods could bring some relief and allow people to survive until the necessary treatment is found, they will not solve the problem of tooth decay, infection, or abscess. First of all, one can rinse his/her mouth with warm salt water. One can maintain proper oral hygiene and thoroughly clean the place around the tooth causing the pain. Cold compresses can be applied to the outside part of the cheek to decrease swelling and pain. There is also an option to take OTC medications for pain. However, the use of medications is possible for adults only if there are no contradictions to it. In case the patient suffers from some medical conditions, allergies, is pregnant, or uses certain medications, he/she must consult a physician before using any medication. It is necessary to remember that a home remedy for toothache cannot heal a tooth or cure infections in case they become the cause of pain. Toothache Remedy: When Should You See a Dentist? In case of toothache which persists for a long time, recurs regularly, and increases in intensity, dental examination is advised. Other indications for seeking dental help include swelling, fever, pain while chewing, a bad taste in your mouth, a broken tooth, and sensitivity which does not go away even after removing the source of stimulation, which in most cases is hot or cold food and beverages. Swelling in the area of face or jaw is a key indication, and in case it is severe and causes difficulty in breathing or swallowing, immediate help from a medical or emergency facility is needed. What Happens During Root Canal Treatment? If the dentist finds out that the pulp is either infected or permanently damaged, root canal therapy will be suggested to save the natural tooth. The patient will be anesthetized using local anesthesia, as part of the process. A hole will be created in the tooth to allow the removal of the damaged pulp. The cleaning and disinfection of the tooth’s root canals will then follow before filling and sealing the tooth. Current dental procedures and the use of local anesthesia will be applied to control the pain during the treatment process. There will likely be some tenderness after the procedure, but it will eventually improve with time. Can You Avoid a Root Canal? Prompt dental treatment might assist in avoiding complications associated with the dental problem. Routine dental examination helps detect cavities or other problems that do not develop deep inside the tooth. Good oral care is essential as well. Daily brushing of teeth twice a day with the use of fluoride toothpaste, flossing, eating less frequent sugar-rich foods and beverages, and visiting a dentist on a regular basis promote good oral health. But if the dental pulp becomes irreversibly affected or infected, then no remedy for tooth pain will return the pulp to normal. The evaluation and subsequent treatment should be