Why do cavities hurt?
In: Biology
Cavities do not hurt. They stay there, unnoticed for years, growing bigger.
What hurts is when the cavity gets near enough to the tooth’s living root for bacteria to get in. The root then becomes inflamed and swells up, but, as the root is encased in solid tooth, pressure builds up. It is this pressure we feel as a toothache.
This is why dentist drill out and fill cavities. The drilling out removes the infected tooth structure, and the fill keeps future bacteria out.
Cavities hurt because the protective layer( enamel ) is damaged causing the nerve to be exposed to decay and bacteria which can cause inflammation.