Does a cavity hurt when you chew?

In the early stages of cavities, you might feel pain when you bite down on something you eat like a piece of candy. In time, you begin to experience tooth pain when you chew on something soft, and when it progresses further, you will experience consistent tooth pain.

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What kind of pain does a cavity feel like?

Feel a toothache or feel pain when eating, drinking or biting down. Feel sensitivity to hot, cold or sweet food and drinks. Develop a bad taste in your mouth, or bad breath. Feel the hole or crack in your tooth with your tongue.

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Why does my tooth hurt when I bite down but no cavity?

Tooth sensitivity occurs when the inner layer of your tooth, known as dentin, becomes exposed. This type of toothache occurs even when there's no cavity to find. Dentin usually becomes exposed when there's a wearing away of enamel or gum recession.

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Why does my tooth hurt when I chew on it?

Tooth sensitivity typically develops when the enamel wears down or the gums recede, exposing the tooth roots. The discomfort can also result from tooth decay, a cracked or chipped tooth, damaged dental work, or periodontal (gum) disease.

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Is it a cavity or just sensitive?

If your pain is only experienced when you eat or drink things that are hot or things that are cold, it is more likely to simply be sensitive teeth. Pain from sensitive teeth tends to affect the entire mouth, while cavity pain tends to focus on a specific tooth.

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Why is there a sharp pain when I bite down on my food? | Dentist in Los Alamitos | Volterra Dental

28 related questions found

Is a cavity sharp or dull pain?

If you begin to feel a sharp, stabbing pain, it could be an indicator that you have a cavity or infection in your mouth. If left untreated, the condition of your teeth and gums can worsen and lead to gum disease or tooth loss. To prevent this from happening to you, call your dentist when the first symptoms arise.

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Does cavity pain come and go?

It can come and go or be constant. Eating or drinking can make the pain worse, particularly if the food or drink is hot or cold. The pain can also be mild or severe. It may feel "sharp" and start suddenly.

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How long does it take for a cavity to form?

Cavities don't develop overnight. It takes weeks, months, even years for a cavity to form. In fact, most cavities take around six months to five years to develop. If a cavity is caught early enough, you can actually reverse the damage to your child's teeth.

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How do I know if my tooth is rotting?

Symptoms of tooth decay
  1. toothache – either continuous pain keeping you awake or occasional sharp pain without an obvious cause.
  2. tooth sensitivity – you may feel tenderness or pain when eating or drinking something hot, cold or sweet.
  3. grey, brown or black spots appearing on your teeth.
  4. bad breath.

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What does tooth decay look like?

Visible holes or pits in your teeth: Cavities form tiny openings in teeth that gradually become larger. Discoloration: Teeth with cavities may appear yellow, brown, or black. Pain: Throbbing pain in your teeth is usually a sign of an infection, which means the cavity has reached your tooth's pulp (center).

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Do cavities hurt without numbing?

The reason your dentist normally numbs your mouth as part of the filling process is that they must use a drill to remove decayed tissue from inside the tooth. Without anesthesia, you may feel some twinges of pain while that is happening.

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Can a cavity hurt without infection?

A toothache is a common symptom of a cavity. But not all toothaches are the result of infection or decay. Ironically, not all early-stage cavities cause pain either. If you are experiencing discomfort, visit your dentist.

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Does tooth pain always mean cavity?

Tooth pain is not always caused by cavities. In fact, cavities generally do not cause tooth pain unless they are left untreated, in which case you may require a root canal. If you are experiencing any form of tooth pain, you should consult with your dentist who can identify the actual cause of your tooth discomfort.

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At what point does a cavity start hurting?

In the early stages of cavities, you might feel pain when you bite down on something you eat like a piece of candy. In time, you begin to experience tooth pain when you chew on something soft, and when it progresses further, you will experience consistent tooth pain.

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What does early signs of cavity look like?

Symptoms
  • Toothache, spontaneous pain or pain that occurs without any apparent cause.
  • Tooth sensitivity.
  • Mild to sharp pain when eating or drinking something sweet, hot or cold.
  • Visible holes or pits in your teeth.
  • Brown, black or white staining on any surface of a tooth.
  • Pain when you bite down.

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How long can you go with cavity pain?

If you are experiencing pain due to a cavity or an infection, then your discomfort will persistently last for more than 48 hours and will continue to worsen with time.

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What are the stages of cavity?

The Five Stages of a Cavity
  • Stage 1: Attack of the Little White Spots.
  • Stage 2: Enamel Decay.
  • Stage 3: Going Deeper Into the Dentin.
  • Stage 4: Ouch! The Decay Hits the Pulp.
  • Stage 5: Abscess Distress.

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Can you live with a rotten tooth?

Although not an immediate consequence, dentists strongly advise that letting rotten teeth go unattended can lead to blood poisoning. This happens because the rot from the teeth keeps getting deposited into the mouth, and in most cases, it's swallowed along with saliva.

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Can a rotten tooth heal itself?

Enamel can repair itself by using minerals from saliva, and fluoride from toothpaste or other sources. But if the tooth decay process continues, more minerals are lost. Over time, the enamel is weakened and destroyed, forming a cavity. A cavity is permanent damage that a dentist has to repair with a filling.

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When is it too late to fill a cavity?

Those that are too deep or too large may require a more intensive treatment. Once bacteria have entered your tooth, it may be too late for a filling because we will need to prevent or treat an existing infection. However, it's never too late for dental care!

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Can a cavity go away with brushing?

For all the good brushing does, it will not eliminate the cavity. The bottom line is you do not have the power to stop your cavity from growing. Your cavity will gradually expand to the point that it moves into the pulp chamber and spurs pain. If the cavity reaches the pulp of the tooth, it will require a root canal.

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Can you suddenly get a cavity?

The stress of changes in your daily routine, like starting a new job, starting school, or starting a new habit, can adversely affect your health—oral health included. It may even be the reason for the sudden appearance of a cavity. Stress affects us all differently, but a common side effect is experiencing a dry mouth.

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How long can a cavity last untreated?

It can take as long as five years from the time a cavity begins to develop to when the tooth needs treatment to prevent the cavity from spreading further. For some people, though, that period can be as short as a few months. No two mouths are unique, so there is no standard timeline for the development of cavities.

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How can a dentist tell which tooth hurts?

Your dentist can perform an examination and do an x-ray to determine what is causing the pain that you're experiencing. If the pain is isolated to just one tooth, infection or irritation of the nerves of that tooth are most likely the cause.

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What happens if you have a cavity for too long?

An untreated cavity can have drastic results that can be so severe that they may even cause death. Cavities are a gateway to infection, which can spread fast the longer it goes untreated.

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