My dentist says I have a cavity but why doesn’t my tooth hurt?
It’s not uncommon to visit your dentist and be surprised when they discover a cavity you didn’t know was there. In the absence of pain, it might not always be easy to figure out that something is wrong. Besides, cavities are supposed to hurt, right? As it turns out, although a cavity might not be causing you a great deal of pain, it’s possible for there to be a very real problem.
Cavities are areas of your tooth that have suffered tooth decay. They might appear as tiny openings or holes in your teeth. They can be caused by a number of different things such as bacteria, snacking often, drinking a lot of sugary drinks, or missing brushings. They can also occur when the proper tooth brushing methods aren’t followed.
Signs and symptoms of a cavity
The signs that you might have a cavity depend on the location of the cavity and the extent of the decay. A cavity might be asymptomatic as it’s just beginning to develop. As it progresses though, you might experience one of these symptoms:
- Spontaneous toothache that happens without any apparent cause
- Sensitivity to temperature
- Mild or sharp pain when you eat or drink something sweet, hot, or cold
- Visible holes or pits in your teeth
- Pain when you bite down
- Brown, black, or white staining on any surface of a tooth
The pain mentioned in those symptoms above usually are a good indicator that something is wrong. However, that pain may take some time to become noticeable. There are plenty of cases where the tooth decay begins but doesn’t cause any discomfort for several weeks or months. At the beginning of the decay process, enamel is the first part of the tooth to be worn down. Enamel is the outer most part of your tooth and the part which you can see. It’s possible for the tooth decay to wear down the enamel without causing any noticeable pain.
As the decay process progresses though, the decay can reach the dentin, which is one of the inner layers of the tooth. Dentin is much softer than enamel and contains pathways to the nerve of the tooth. Once the infection from the tooth decay reaches this part of the tooth, it becomes necessary to receive a root canal to get rid of the infected pulp and receive the pain.
Although it’s possible for a cavity to progress without causing pain and discomfort, it’s important to talk to your dentist about your options for treating a cavity before it becomes more of a problem. Even without pain, damage can certainly still be done. One of the best steps to take is to ensure you’re brushing properly and often.
