If you have a pulsing tooth, this typically indicates there is an underlying dental problem. This pounding pain tends to be felt in time with your heartbeat. Inside your tooth there are some sensitive nerve endings and blood vessels. The pressure rises due to inflammation and your blood pumps into the area with every heartbeat.

By understanding the main causes of a throbbing tooth, you can take action fast to help save your smile!

What Is Dental Pulp and Why Does It Cause Pulsing Pain?

In order to understand why you may have a pulsing tooth, you need to understand the inner structure of a tooth. Inside your tooth there is a part called the dental pulp. This is essentially the core of the tooth containing delicate blood vessels, connective tissue and sensitive nerves.

The enamel layer protects the pulp by creating a solid boundary. Once inflamed, the tissue inside cannot expand. The immune system will send white blood cells to fight off any bacteria and this causes rapid swelling. This results in pressure building and the sensitive nerves inside are forced against the solid enamel wall. With every beat of your heart, blood is pumped into your head and mouth causing more pressure on your localized blood vessels which gives you the characteristic pulsing pain.

What Are the Major Causes of a Pulsing Tooth?

Can Bad Tooth Decay Cause a Pulsing Tooth?

One of the most common causes of tooth pain is decay. Bacteria in plaque create acid that eats away at the enamel and dentin. Once the decay has eaten through to the inner layers, bacteria will be able to reach further into your tooth.

What Is Reversible Pulpitis?

When there is deep decay the pulp can become inflamed causing reversible pulpitis. This causes the nerves to become inflamed and sensitive to cold and sweet foods. Removing the cavity should cure this issue.

How Does Increased Inflammation Cause Tooth Pain?

If the decay gets close to the pulp, there will be increased inflammation. The blood vessels will swell inside the tooth causing constant pressure.

Why Does Tooth Sensitivity Occur?

Eating hot meals or drinking cold drinks will cause sharp pain.

What Is Irreversible Pulpitis?

Once bacteria fully enters the pulp chamber, the inflammation will progress to irreversible pulpitis. This causes permanent damage to the nerves inside your tooth.

Why Does Irreversible Pulpitis Cause Constant Pulsing Pain?

This will cause severe pulsing pain constantly. The pain will worsen when lying flat on your back.

Why Does Tooth Pain Occur Without an Obvious Cause?

The pain will come on suddenly with no real cause. This often wakes you up in the middle of the night.

Can Nerve Death Stop Tooth Pain?

Eventually the nerve will die causing the pain to subside. However the infection is still very active and slowly progresses towards the root tip.

Can a Periapical Abscess Cause a Pulsing Tooth?

A periapical abscess means there is a serious bacterial infection that has become trapped at the bottom of your tooth root. The body will try to contain the infection causing a pocket of pus to develop inside the bone.

Why Does Pressure Build Up in a Dental Abscess?

– The pus will build up quickly inside the solid bone causing severe pulsing pain in the jaw, cheek and neck.

Why Does an Abscessed Tooth Become Sensitive to Touch?

– Even a small amount of pressure such as gently tapping the tooth with your finger or eating softer foods will cause extreme pain.

Can Swelling Indicate a Tooth Abscess?

– The infection will cause localized swelling of the gums, cheek or face.

What Are the General Symptoms of a Dental Abscess?

– You may feel like you have a mild fever, feel tired, have a bad taste in your mouth and swollen glands underneath your jaw.

Can Tooth Damage Cause a Pulsing Tooth?

Damage to the tooth can cause bacteria and fluid to get past the enamel. Trauma to the tooth such as during sport, teeth grinding or biting onto hard foods can cause tiny cracks to occur.

What Is Cracked Tooth Syndrome?

Flexible cracks will cause the teeth to move slightly when chewing meaning the sensitive pulp will be exposed to bacteria, saliva and extreme temperatures.

Why Does a Tooth Pulse During Chewing?

– This will cause your tooth to pulse badly when chewing. When the pressure is released the pressure will subside causing unpredictable pain.

Can a Traumatic Impact Cause Tooth Pulsing?

– If you have received any impact to your mouth, this can bruise the sensitive nerves and blood vessels inside an undamaged tooth causing it to pulse.

Can Periodontal Disease Cause a Pulsing Tooth?

Sometimes the pulsing will not be caused by the pulp itself. Periodontitis is a serious gum disease that causes damage to the bones and soft tissues holding your teeth in place.

What Happens When Deep Gum Pockets Develop?

– Deep pockets will develop between your infected gums and tooth roots. Food will become trapped here.

Can a Periodontal Abscess Cause Throbbing Pain?

– If one of the deep pockets suddenly gets blocked, fluid will not be able to escape. This causes a painful abscess to develop on the side of the tooth root.

What Do Red and Swollen Gums Indicate?

– The gums will become deep red, swollen and very sore causing a throbbing pain.

Can Recent Dental Work Cause a Pulsing Tooth?

Sometimes you may feel a pulsing tooth after dental work. Below are some reasons why:

Why Does Tooth Sensitivity Occur After Deep Fillings?

– Cleaning out the deep decay near the pulp can cause temporary inflammation. This will often cause the nerve to pulse gently for a few days.

Can High Fillings or Crowns Cause Pulsing Pain?

– If the new filling/crown is slightly too high, the opposing teeth will hit it causing trauma. This will cause the periodontal ligament to become inflamed causing a constant pulsing pain.

Is Pulsing Normal After Tooth Extraction?

– It is normal to feel a mild pulsing in the socket for 24-48 hours after your extraction whilst the blood clot forms to protect it. However, if you are feeling severe pulsing after 3 days this could indicate a dry socket or secondary infection.

Can Sinus Infections Cause a Pulsing Tooth?

The anatomy of your mouth plays a key role in causing pain in your upper teeth. The roots of your upper back teeth sit directly above the floor of your maxillary sinuses.

How Does Pressure From a Sinus Infection Cause Tooth Pain?

– If you have a sinus infection, fluid will build up causing inflammation. This will cause pressure to build which will put pressure on the nerve endings of your upper teeth.

Why Are Multiple Upper Teeth Affected?

– Usually multiple upper back teeth will be affected.

Why Does Tooth Pain Increase When Moving Around?

– Forward bending, jumping or quick head movements will increase the pressure in your sinuses causing the pain to pulse.

How Can You Reduce Pulsing Tooth Pain?

  • Book an emergency appointment with a qualified dentist. They will be able to determine the exact cause.

  • Sleep with extra pillows to reduce the blood pressure in your head.

  • Rinse your mouth with warm salt water to help clean the area and relieve the inflamed gums. This will also help draw out excess fluid.

  • Place a cold ice pack (wrapped in a cloth) on the outside of your cheek for 15 minutes.

  • Avoid eating or drinking anything extremely hot, icy, acidic or sugary as this can irritate your sensitive nerves.

  • Take an over the counter anti-inflammatory medication as advised on the packet.

What Are the Frequently Asked Questions About a Pulsing Tooth?

Can a Pulsing Tooth Heal on Its Own?

Unfortunately, a pulsing tooth cannot heal on its own. Although the pulsing may stop once the nerve has died, the infection will continue to spread further into your jawbone. You will need to visit a dentist to clean the infection and save your tooth.

How Does a Dentist Treat a Throbbing Tooth?

A dentist will treat the cause of the infection. If the decay has reached the pulp, they will carry out a root canal. They will remove the infected tissue, clean the canals and fill the area. If the damage is severe and the tooth cannot be repaired they will safely remove it.

When Is a Throbbing Tooth an Emergency?

If you start to experience swelling in your face, a high temperature, difficulty swallowing or breathing then this is a critical emergency. This indicates the infection has spread into your blood stream or deep in your neck and you will require emergency treatment.

A pulsing tooth should always be seen by a professional as soon as possible. Whether it is caused by deep decay, an advanced abscess, cracks or gum inflammation, getting treatment quickly will prevent any damage from the bacteria. Contact your dental professional today for a full diagnosis and targeted relief.