Do occasional toothaches from cavities need treatment?

Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
Updated on April 12, 2025
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When a patient has a cavity, they may only occasionally experience pain. In such cases, it is generally recommended that the patient visits a hospital for consultation. Even a minor cavity has its preventative measures to stop it from worsening and leading to severe consequences; therefore, treatment is still necessary. Many severe cavities develop from minor ones. They can slowly cause defects in the teeth, damage to the tooth root, or stimulate the nerves in the gums, potentially leading to loose or falling teeth. Thus, it is advisable for patients to adopt the correct treatment methods. Additionally, if patients experience pain, they can undergo anti-inflammatory and pain relief treatments to alleviate discomfort and avoid inconvenience in their dietary life.

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Can tooth decay heal by itself?

Cavities are a type of dental hard tissue defect caused by bacterial infection, and represent a chronic, progressive, destructive disease. In the early stages of a cavity, if only the enamel layer is involved with simple demineralization of the tooth, then remineralization treatment can be conducted. This scenario is the only reversible one where the cavity can heal itself. If the cavity progresses to the dentin layer, then it cannot heal by itself and requires timely intervention by drilling to remove the decayed part and performing a filling treatment. If the infection is not controlled in time, bacteria can further cause the dental nerve to become purulent and necrotic, leading to symptoms of pulpitis or apical periodontitis. In such cases, timely root canal treatment is necessary.

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Can cavities be brushed with an electric toothbrush?

Cavities can be cleaned using an electric toothbrush. However, if the cavity is severe, the vibrations from the electric toothbrush may cause pain. It is necessary to fill or treat teeth with cavities as soon as possible. Only after treatment can the progression of the cavity be controlled; merely brushing with an electric toothbrush cannot control the development of the cavity. Cavities are a destructive disease caused by bacterial infection of the hard tissues of the teeth. Control over cavities can only be achieved by removing decay and using a drill to remove the infected cavity tissue; an electric toothbrush cannot control the development of cavities.

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Will tooth decay affect the replacement of teeth?

Cavities can have a certain impact on tooth replacement. Cavities are a chronic progressive destructive disease caused by bacterial infection of the hard tissue of the tooth. If not treated in time, it may further develop, forming pulpitis or even apical periodontitis. Once it reaches the stage of apical periodontitis, it may form a gum abscess, or even swelling. During the process of new teeth eruption, they emerge outward through the position of the old tooth roots by absorbing the roots of the old teeth. If there is severe inflammation in the eruption pathway, it may lead to the destruction of the dental follicle of the new tooth, causing a developmental defect in the enamel of the new tooth. Therefore, it is possible that cavities can affect tooth replacement.

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Do cavities have worms in them?

Cavities do not contain worms; they are caused by bacterial infections and are a type of infectious disease. Cavities are also known as dental caries, and many people mistakenly believe they are caused by worms chewing on the teeth, but this is not the case. Cavities occur when bacterial infections attack the hard tissues of the teeth, leading to destructive dental diseases. It is also a chronic infectious disease. Cavities are caused by bacterial factors, meaning bacteria are the initial factor in their development. Bacteria can use glucose to produce lactic acid, causing demineralization of the teeth and thus forming cavities. If one brushes their teeth and rinses their mouth immediately after eating to control dental plaque, the development of cavities can be controlled or slowed. If not controlled in time, cavities may further lead to pulpitis.

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What will happen if tooth decay is not treated?

If dental caries are not treated, they may further infect and cause inflammation of the dental nerves, leading to pulpitis or apical periodontitis, causing severe pain. When apical periodontitis occurs, it may sometimes lead to a space infection, which is facial swelling. If the inflammation is not controlled in time, it may also cause osteomyelitis of the jawbone. Therefore, dental caries need to be treated as early as possible. Dental caries are caused by bacterial infections that lead to the decay of the hard tissues of the teeth; in the early stages of decay, using a drill to stop the development of the disease—namely, timely filling—can effectively control the further progression of dental caries. If dental caries further infect and cause inflammation of the dental nerves, it can lead to pain while eating or sleeping, sometimes waking from sleep due to pain, and in severe cases, it can cause facial swelling.