Why Do Teeth Throb When They Have Decay?

Teeth may have harder outer shells made of enamel. However, if that enamel erodes because of decay, it can become quite sensitive, throbbing when dental decay deepens.

How Decay Opens Up a Tooth to Pain

When the enamel erodes, a secondary level of the tooth appears, known as the dentin. The dentin lies next to the pulp of the tooth and the area that is very susceptible to pain. After all, the pulp is made up of blood vessels, connective tissue, and nerves, all of which react to hot and cold. If the pulp becomes inflamed, you will feel pain, sometimes a throbbing pain that can disrupt your daily activities due to dental decay.

Treating Tooth Pain and Decay

Usually, when a tooth starts to throb, that is a strong indicator that the tooth’s pulp has become infected and inflamed. Therefore, we need to treat the tooth right away by performing root canal surgery. The surgery will alleviate the source of the pain, as we will remove the tooth’s pulp and disinfect the tooth, cleaning out the root canals. When we do this, the blood flow goes through the tooth, causing the pain to subside and the tooth no longer hurts.

The Deeper the Decay, the Higher the Level of Pain

A tooth that has a good deal of decay will usually hurt because, again, the pulp of the tooth has been affected and therefore is irritated. When your degree of pain reaches a high level, root canal surgery is almost always advised. A root canal is the most effective way to preserve a tooth affected by deep decay and pulpitis. You should schedule the procedure, even if your decayed tooth currently does not hurt, as doing so will prevent future problems with toothache pain and infection.

Do you need a root canal? Give us a call so we can assess your degree of decay and treat the condition immediately. Remember, tooth decay cannot be reversed. Therefore, you need to call us for a consultation.