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Your teeth are one of the most prominent features of your face. Taking good care of them is not only needed for a pretty smile but also for your health. The infected pulp in your teeth can cause them to lose their pearly charm. There are many causes behind infected pulp; some of them are discussed here:
What is Infected Pulp?
Our teeth have three layers; enamel, dentin, and pulp; the pulp contains blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissues. They are the core of the tooth and provide the tooth’s blood and nutrients. The infected pulp is the secondary stage of tooth decay and happens due to bacterial infection.
Tooth starts decaying or forming cavities when the bacteria’s acids dissolve the hard tissues, including enamel, dentin, cementum of the teeth. This leads to infected pulp or pulpitis, which is inflammation of the pulp. If this stage of tooth decay is not treated correctly, it leads to the death of your teeth’ pulp.
Prolonged pain and increased sensitivity to stimuli, for example, hot and cold, are the symptoms of infected pulp. It is highly recommended to visit a dentist if you have any of these symptoms. You can now book an appointment with the Best Dentists of Pakistan via Marham.
4 Major Causes of Infected Pulp
1. Physical Trauma
Physical trauma is the leading cause of pulpitis that includes physical abuse to the tooth, or sometimes during dental procedures, trauma may occur with the dental equipment. But chances of trauma are more during accidents or any other injury. In this situation, the tooth’s outer layers are damaged due to trauma that protects the pulp. And hence the pulp becomes infected or inflamed due to injury.
2. Hypersensitivity
It is the symptom of pulpitis or other dental problems. But it may become the cause of infected pulp as well. The increased sensitivity to hot, cold, or sour stimuli shows something is problematic in the oral cavity. It signals that dentin is exposed to the oral cavity and the stimuli directly affect the tooth’s nerve in the pulp. This is the primary cause of pulp infection. As it shows, dentin is now exposed, and the bacteria directly attack pulp.
3. Bacterial infections
Bacteria like to survive on the food debris present on your teeth and acid is produced from the food debris or sugars on the tooth surface. This acid starts dissolving the outer layer enamel of your tooth. Then it damages the inner part dentin, and in the end, the pulp becomes infected.
In this situation, the pulp cavity is no longer sealed and opens to the oral cavity. This increases the chances of infections which lead to inflammation. The inflamed pulp puts pressure on the pulp cavity, nerve of the tooth, and other tissues. The inflammation is associated with a bacterial infection.
Inflammation causes severe throbbing pain in the infected and its neighboring teeth. Sometimes infected pulp puts so much pressure on the nerve of the tooth that it often becomes difficult to locate the source of the pain.
4. Periodontitis
This gum disease damages the gums and forms pockets of space between gums and teeth. The space between your teeth is filled with food debris and becomes a source of bacterial infection. According to dental research, this leads to abscess development in the gums. And hence becomes the cause of infected pulp.
Treatment for Infected Pulp
Your infected pulp should be diagnosed at early stages. Its only treatment is the root canal, during which the infected pulp is removed from the tooth. Then the tooth and its root canals are filled with some inert substance and to block the opening.
Risk Factors for Infected Pulp
Older people and children are the most at risk for developing infected pulp in their teeth. Some of the other factors that are linked to tooth decay and infection of the pulp include the following:
- Diabetes
- Poor oral hygiene
- Not visiting your dentist regularly
- Eating high sugar foods
Most tooth decay problems are due to bacteria that damage the dentin and enamel and reach the pulp. These problems, if left untreated, become more severe and do more damage to your tooth and overall health. So it is always advisable to consult your dentist immediately whenever you feel any tooth problems are the leading cause of tooth decay and pulpitis. If you have any issue related to your tooth, you must visit your nearest dentist.
FAQs
1. How does pulpitis occur?
Pulp infection is caused when bacteria invade your tooth’s pulp and cause it to swell.
2. How do you treat an infected pulp?
The most common treatment for infected pulp is Root Canal Therapy.
3. How do you know if your pulp is infected?
Constant toothache, hypersensitivity, fever, and swelling are the most common symptoms that indicate your pulp is infected.
4. Can infected pulp heal itself?
The tooth’s infected pulp does not heal on its own and must be treated with a root canal.
