5 Signs You Need a Root Canal, Not Just a Filling

A toothache can mean a lot of things, and it's easy to assume the fix is always a quick filling. But once decay or infection reaches the pulp — the soft tissue inside your tooth — a filling alone won't solve the problem.

The clearest sign is pain that lingers well after you eat something hot or cold, rather than fading in a few seconds. Sensitivity that sticks around for a minute or more usually points to pulp involvement.

Swelling or tenderness in the gum near a specific tooth, a small pimple-like bump on the gum, or a tooth that's turned slightly darker than its neighbors are also signs worth getting checked.

Sharp pain when you bite down, especially on one particular tooth, is another common signal — it often means the infection has reached the root tip.

None of these symptoms confirm anything on their own. An X-ray is the only reliable way to know for sure, so if any of this sounds familiar, it's worth booking a check-up rather than waiting for the pain to pass.