What Does a Dead Tooth Feel Like?
Dr. Andre Eliasian is a Dentist practicing in Glendale, CA. Dr. Eliasian specializes in preventing, diagnosing, and treating diseases and conditions associated with the mouth and overall dental health. Dentists are trained to carry out such treatment as professional cleaning, restorative, prosthodontic, and endodontic procedures,... more
With a dead tooth, the individual may experience a feeling of pain in the tooth and the gums. Some people won't feel any pain, and others can have milder or intense pain. The reason behind this pain is from the dying nerve of the tooth. This pain can also be caused by an infection. Having a bad taste in your mouth, swelling around the gum line, and bad breath are common signs of a tooth infection. A tooth is considered dead when it doesn’t receive a fresh blood supply as this is vital to the tooth's health.
Healthy teeth are normally a shade of white with no obvious discoloration. However, depending on the oral hygiene and the diet of the person, this can vary. If someone's tooth is discolored because of the dying nerve, this specific tooth will be a different color from the other teeth in the mouth. An infected or discolored tooth may look light brown, yellow, gray, or black. The discoloration will increase as the nerves die and the tooth keeps decaying. If someone wants to protect their teeth and prevent a dead tooth, they need to take care of their oral health. Having good oral hygiene can protect their teeth from other problems as well. Read More.
