Dental health: Causes and risks of intermittent tooth pain

Intermittent tooth pain and discoloration, such as a tooth turning grey, can indicate serious underlying dental issues that require professional evaluation. Fluctuating pain does not necessarily mean a problem has resolved; instead, it may be caused by tooth decay, cracked teeth, inflamed dental pulp, gum disease, or developing infections.

Untreated dental issues, including dead teeth, can lead to severe complications such as tooth abscesses, jawbone infections, facial swelling, and the spread of infection to other teeth or the bloodstream. Common treatments for a dead tooth include root canals to remove dead tissue, crowns to restore strength, or extraction if the tooth cannot be saved.

Urgent dental care is recommended if symptoms such as fever, facial swelling, or a pimple-like bump on the gums appear. The American Dental Association notes that acute dental pain can arise from conditions affecting both hard dental tissues and surrounding soft tissues.