Why a tooth hurts

Toothache is one of the most troublesome problems that can hit us unexpectedly and always at a very unsuitable time. Let's take a closer look at what can cause a toothache.

The main reasons why a tooth hurts

Tooth cavity or dental caries

Dental caries is considered to be one of the most common infectious diseases in the world. It is a disease that damages the hard tissues of the tooth and causes them to decay. Bacteria that accumulate in the dental plaque convert food sugars (glucose, sucrose) into organic acids, which start breaking down the dental tissues. Once a defect has developed in the tooth as a result of the decay, it is irreversible. Dental tissue does not regenerate on its own and medical intervention is necessary. An extensive carious defect can be seen with the naked eye, but an incipient and superficial caries can only be identified by a dentist. Proper dental care, regular mealtimes and regular visits to the dentist for check-ups can help to reduce the occurrence of caries.

Inflammation of the dental nerve or pulpitis

If left untreated, dental caries can lead to nerve inflammation. Inflammation of the dental nerve is caused by microbes that have penetrated the dental nerve because of caries. Such inflammation needs treatment and you should definitely see a doctor.

Root apex inflammation or periapical periodontitis

If left untreated, inflammation of the dental nerve can cause the dental nerve to become necrotic, allowing microbes to enter the bone tissue surrounding the tooth through the apical opening of the root canal. As a result, inflammation of the tissues surrounding the root apex can occur, which can be either acute or chronic. Acute inflammation can cause pain when biting down or it can manifest itself as a throbbing pain also in adjacent teeth. Inflammation can also manifest as painful swelling. Acute inflammation can lead to a general feeling of discomfort and fever. With chronic periapical periodontitis, the patient may not feel direct pain and the progress of the disease may be more difficult to recognize; the dentist can diagnose this using an X-ray. One of the symptoms can be the discharge of pus from an abscess formed in the root apex area of the tooth and the increased mobility of the tooth. The absence of noticeable symptoms is the reason why it is necessary to visit the dentist regularly for a check-up, in order to catch untreated inflammation quickly.

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