Nerves In Teeth: What They Are and Why They Hurt Sometimes

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases made on our website.
Medically reviewed by Othman Lahmaydi, RDH

Even though teeth are composed of non-living tissue, you’ll still feel pain when you have a toothache or cavity. This pain usually means that your tooth nerves are exposed or damaged. But what causes tooth nerve pain, and how do you treat it? 

All teeth have nerves that supply nutrients to the tooth tissue. When the outer layer of the tooth is damaged or wears away, the nerves may be exposed or damaged, resulting in pain. Tooth nerve damage can be cured if you treat it soon enough and practice good oral hygiene. 

Let’s explore the function of tooth nerves, how to recognize tooth nerve pain, and how you can treat damaged tooth nerves.

Are There Nerves in Your Teeth? 

Sick female with toothache

All teeth have nerves that provide them with nutrients. These nerves are extremely sensitive and carry messages from the brain to your teeth.

When you eat hot or cold food, your teeth and nerves are responsible for telling the brain whether the food is safe to eat. Tooth nerves also carry calcium and other nutrients to help strengthen the tooth. 

The nerves are located in the center of your tooth and are covered by a layer of cementum, followed by a layer of dentin and then a hard coating of enamel. The innermost layer consists of nerves and blood vessels and is known as the pulp. 

When the outer layers are damaged due to a cavity or broken tooth, the pulp may become exposed, causing nerve pain. Since the nerves are extremely sensitive, exposed tooth nerves can be quite painful. 

What Does Nerve Pain in Teeth Feel Like?

Nerve pain can range from mild and dull pain that lasts for several hours to sharp stabbing pain that’s unbearable. The type and intensity of nerve pain you experience will depend on how much of the tooth nerves are exposed and whether the pain is caused by exposed or damaged nerves. 

If the tooth nerve is damaged, you may experience prolonged pain that’s almost unbearable. However, sometimes the nerve pain may be caused by sensitive teeth, and you’ll only feel pain when consuming hot or cold food and drinks.

Causes of tooth nerve pain include: 

Cavities and Tooth Decay 

Tooth decay and cavities are the main causes of tooth nerve pain. Deep cavities can go to the tooth pulp, causing severe nerve pain. Even if the tooth enamel wears away partially, it may result in tooth sensitivity, and you’ll experience nerve pain when eating cold or hot foods. 

Broken Teeth 

Accidents and poor oral hygiene can sometimes cause your teeth to break. When this happens, the tooth nerve may be exposed or damaged, and you may experience unbearable pain. If your tooth breaks in an accident, visit a dentist immediately to prevent further damage. 

Gum Disease or an Abscessed Tooth

Gum disease may cause gaps between the tooth and the nerves, especially if your gum is swollen. This may cause bacteria to reach the tooth nerves, sometimes resulting in severe pain.

If you have an abscessed tooth, more pus and blood may seep into the area around the tooth nerves, and the pressure will cause numb pain.

How Do You Know if Your Tooth Nerve Is Damaged?

Beautiful Woman Suffering From Painful Toothache

The first sign of a damaged tooth nerve is when you feel pain when moving your teeth or after eating and drinking. This pain is usually more severe when you experience pulpal sensitivity and a single tooth nerve is damaged. This could be due to cavities, gum disease, or a broken tooth, and it needs immediate treatment. 

The second type of nerve pain is when several teeth become sensitive to hot, cold, and acidic foods. In such cases, your nerves may not be damaged, but the enamel may have worn off, causing the nerves to be exposed. 

Here are some signs that your tooth nerve is damaged: 

  • When you feel a toothache that hurts from the gum level, pain in the lower part of your teeth is often a sign of nerve damage. 
  • If you feel pain whenever you touch or use a certain tooth. This pain will usually linger when triggered and may spread throughout the mouth. 
  • If you feel pain whenever you eat hot, cold, or acidic foods. When tooth sensitivity becomes worse, and your tooth enamel becomes extremely thin, these foods may directly affect the tooth nerves. 

Can a Tooth Nerve Heal Itself?

Once a tooth nerve is damaged, it’s impossible to heal. However, you can save the tooth if you seek treatment soon enough. It may take several weeks or even months for your tooth nerve to die, so your dentist can prevent further damage if you visit them in the early stages of tooth decay. 

Always book a dental appointment as soon as you experience nerve pain. Your dentist will assess the damage and may treat your tooth with a filling or root canal. If the tooth is damaged, your dentist may insert a crown to protect it. 

If you have sensitive teeth and can’t handle hot and cold foods, your dentist may give your teeth a fluoride treatment to strengthen the enamel. 

Leave a Comment

1