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The visible part of the tooth is the crown. The rest of the tooth is hidden below the gumline and is called the root. The outer portion of the root is hard. This is called dentin. The inner portion or the “root canal” contains a pulp which is soft. This consists of nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue.

Pulpitis is caused by an inflammation of the pulp inside the tooth. It is usually the result of either dental caries (tooth decay) or dental injury. Dental caries occurs as a result of poor dental hygiene. Pulpitis can affect baby (milk) teeth and adult (permanent) teeth.

Caries is caused because the bacteria in the mouth feed on sugar and starch that we consume. They produce an acid that leads to tooth decay. This can lead to an infection of the pulp and sometimes the gums.

Mild inflammation may not damage the tooth permanently. Severe inflammation may cause the pulp to die.

Pulpitis can be acute or chronic. In acute pulpitis, the pain is intense and can be continuous. It increases by eating hot and cold foods.Chronic pulpitis is characterized by less pain than in the acute form.

The severity of toothache can be mild to excruciating. This pain can be aggravated by chewing hot and cold food. If pulpitis is detected early, a temporary filling can eliminate the pain. This can be replaced by a permanent filling after about six to eight weeks.

When the pulp damage is extensive, the dentist treats by removing the pulp by root canal treatment or tooth extraction