The inside of your broken tooth may appear black primarily due to the effects of a traumatic injury that damaged the tooth's blood supply.
Understanding Tooth Discoloration After Injury
When a tooth suffers a sudden injury, such as a fall or impact, it can disrupt or sever the flow of blood within the tooth's pulp (the innermost part containing nerves and blood vessels). According to dental information, A sudden injury to your tooth can damage its blood supply, causing it to turn black. This black or dark discoloration often indicates that the pulp has died.
Think of it like a bruise; when tissue doesn't receive blood flow, it can change color. In a tooth, this happens internally and can lead to the tooth darkening over time. While tooth decay can also cause discoloration (both externally and internally), the reference specifically highlights the link between injury and the inside of the tooth turning black due to blood supply damage.
What This Means
- Pulp Damage: The injury likely damaged the pulp tissue inside your tooth.
- Blood Supply Interruption: The trauma cut off the tooth's vital blood source.
- Discoloration: The lack of blood flow leads to the tooth's internal structure darkening, which becomes visible, especially if the tooth is broken and the inside is exposed.
It is important to see a dentist if you have a broken tooth, especially one that is discolored, to assess the damage and discuss potential treatments.