While your teeth are meant to last a lifetime, damage from cavities, gum disease, and trauma can cause them to weaken and become susceptible to infection or decay. The result can cause tooth discoloration, swollen gums, and severe pain when you chew and move your mouth. In many cases, symptoms occur because the inner layers of your tooth, called the root canals, have been damaged. This hollow section of your tooth leads from the top of your tooth to the tooth root. Its contents are called pulp, which includes nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. Depending on the source of…
