What Could Cause Tooth Infection?

A toothache is a very distinct kind of pain, and can be constant or only felt after stimulation, such as eating extremely hot or cold food. Many patients fear this kind of issue occurring, so when it does, they avoid seeing an expert in treatment in tooth infection in San Francisco to get it checked out. It is important, however, to treat the tooth to prevent the infection from becoming worse, which could even lead to the need to extract it. Here is a look at the most common cause of a tooth infection.

Deep decay can set into a tooth if it is not cleaned properly, including brushed and flossed daily, and examined by a professional at least twice a year. If this does not occur, the decay developed from sugary foods can eat away at the enamel, or the outer protective layer of the teeth. If not treated, it can continue on to damage more of the teeth, and eventually reach the inner layer. This is where the pulp, blood vessels, and nerves live. The pulp becomes infected or inflamed when the decay comes in contact.

Our San Francisco dentist can mend the tooth by performing a root canal. This involves creating a hole in the tooth, and removing the infected pulp. The tooth is then filled with a material called “gutta percha”, and sealed with a crown.