Why Do Tooth Nerves Die?
Pulp tissue is encased in a germ-free environment. But suppose bacteria from deep decay or a leaky filling finds its way to the pulp. In that case, it will become infected — just like when dirt and bacteria infect a cut on your finger. The difference is that you can treat infected skin, but once the pulp tissue is infected, it can't heal on its own.
There are many reasons tooth nerves die. Some of them include:
- A broken tooth
- Deep crown preparations
- Repeated invasive procedures
- Grinding or clenching your teeth
These incidents can irritate pulp tissue, causing it to become inflamed. The pressure of swollen blood vessels on the pulp nerves will cause pain that could signal to you that you might have a dead tooth. This signal often comes in the form of spontaneous pain, pain when biting or chewing, or extreme sensitivity when drinking hot or cold beverages.
Once you remove the irritant, the pulp calms down, and the tooth can remain alive. However, suppose the pulp tissue is irritated long enough. In that case, the reduced blood supply will result in a dead and infected nerve.