Although a number of things, including a
broken tooth or an injury to your mouth, can cause pulp disease, the American Dental Association explains that pulp disease is usually a result of poor oral
hygiene.
Brushing twice and flossing once each day
along with a healthy diet and regular checkups with your dentist can help
prevent pulp disease. If you have dental caries, it can affect the pulp in the
soft center of your tooth or teeth. Your pulp is loaded with blood vessels,
nerves and delicate tissue, that when disturbed, could become diseased. Head to your dentist as quickly as possible, as those cavities could lead to missing
teeth.
Your dentist explains that there are several
different types of pulp disease.
Reversible pulpitis is a mild inflammation in
the center of your tooth. Symptoms usually include pain when you eat or drink,
or when your teeth are exposed to hot, cold or something sweet. Without treatment,
your pulpitis could cause an abscess, which is a collection of pus and bacteria.
Improve your oral health habits to help offset reversible pulptitis and see
your dentist as quickly as possible as you may need a dental filling if you break or
crack a tooth.
Irreversible pulpitis is actually an
inflammation so severe in the center of your tooth that there is no cure. In
other words, you may need root canal therapy. If your root canal doesn’t
help, your dentist may have to extract your tooth.
Dental pulp stones also known as dental pulp
calcification are a condition that hardens your pulp tissue causing extreme
pain and hypersensitivity.
If you have dental pulp stones, your dental nerves are becoming compressed.
Root canals are usually the only answer when it comes to dental stones as the
hardened tissue is cleared away during the root canal treatment.
One of the most painful pulp diseases occurs
when the pulp in your teeth become exposed. Dental pulp exposure is a condition
that occurs when there has been damage done to the enamel or external covering
of your tooth. If you have a crack or cavity in your tooth, your pulp becomes
exposed making it easy for food particles and bacteria to make their way into
the center of your tooth. Pain is usually the first and most noticeable symptom.
You may also have a mild infection that if left untreated, could result in a
serious abscess. Depending on how exposed your pulp is, a root canal may help,
otherwise you may need to have your tooth pulled.
If you are
experiencing sensitivity, sudden or intense pain in your mouth, or have an
infection, you could be suffering from pulp disease. Schedule an appointment with
your dentist today for more information.
