Why See A Dentist If You Have A Tingling Tooth?
Posted on: 9 June 2022
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While tingling might not feel like a worrying sensation, you should see a dentist if one of your teeth feels this way. If you have a recurring or constant tingling feeling in a tooth, then it can be an early warning sign that you have a potential dental problem that needs treatment.
What does tingling mean in this case?
An Early Sign Of Tooth Damage
Tingling can be a sign that a tooth is brewing a problem. You don't always feel pain at first when you have tooth damage. Sometimes, the tooth will tingle for a while first.
Problems like decay and enamel erosion sometimes make teeth tingle. Here, the tooth has lost some of its protective coating and its more sensitive underlying parts or its nerve might be exposed. You can have the same problem if a tooth or filling cracks or breaks.
Simple exposure to air can affect the internal parts of a tooth. While they might not hurt right now, they are sensitive enough to cause a physical tingle that you can feel.
Or, sometimes, a tooth will tingle because it has internal inflammation in its pulp. It might have a bacterial infection.
This pulp sits inside the tooth. If it gets inflamed or infected, then it can create pressure. While this problem sometimes means that you will need root canal work, you might not feel a lot of pain to start with. However, the tingling you feel now will turn much more painful very quickly if the inflammation or infection isn't treated.
An Early Sign Of Gum Problems
Sometimes, you'll feel tingling on a tooth and on its gum. This might mean that you have some problems with gum recession or early gum disease.
If gums move away from their normal position on your teeth, then they expose parts of the teeth that should be covered. This movement can also leave open gaps between the bottom of the gum and the tooth. The gum doesn't sit tightly in place any longer.
If bacteria gets into these gaps, then this part of your mouth will feel different. Your gums, and possibly teeth, will feel more sensitive. Sometimes, this sensitivity feels like a tingle or itch.
If you have regular or persistent tingling in a tooth, make an appointment to see a dentist. They can check the tooth and assess if it does have a problem that needs treatment.