Does a gray tooth mean it is abscessed?

Answer by  Monkey4 (74)

Yes, a gray or yellow tooth often does mean an abscess is present. It can also mean that antibiotics were taken.

Answer by  wallaby78 (2293)

A gray tooth means the tooth has died. The nerves that connect the tooth to your nervous system, and the blood vessels that keep it alive, have withered or been cut.

Answer by  Yen (320)

A gray tooth does not always mean the tooth is abscessed. It could be stained from a silver filling and causing a gray look when you look at the tooth. It could also just be a tooth that is stained because you were sick as a child and went on antibiotics. Best to have it looked at.

Answer by  rannit (91)

No, this does not necessarily mean that it is abscessed. The gray color could represent the presence of decay or it could be that the tooth is dying. If there has been trauma to the tooth, then more than likely it is dying and should be checked right away by your family dentist.

Answer by  RRGKK (412)

It may be or it may be "dead". If you are not feeling any pain in it, it has probably lost all nerve endings and possibly blood supply as well. It may have to be pulled to avoid decay in neighboring teeth.