When you have tooth pain from a nerve issue, the tooth will hurt for a few days to a few months or sometimes longer before the nerve dies.
The exact time it can take for the nerve to die and the tooth to stop hurting also depends on the cause.
Severe trauma can cause the nerve death to occur within days and untreated tooth decay can take months before the nerve dies.
In nerve necrosis (nerve death), the nerve tissue dies completely and many people experience a sudden and misleading stop in pain and mistakenly believes the issue has resolved when it actually has not.
The pain can last for days to weeks in nerve necrosis.
In Irreversible Pulpitis, (severe pain).
The inflammation in irreversible pulpitis is severe and causes intense and persistent throbbing pain, which often radiates to your jaw or ear and gets worse at night.
And over the counter pain relievers often provide little relief.
The pain in irreversible pulpitis can last anywhere from several days to a few months and the tooth will require immediate attention and often a root canal to save it.
In reversible pulpitis, (sensitivity).
The nerve is inflamed but also still alive.
And you will likely experience sharp and temporary pain when eating hot, cold or sweet foods.
The pain with reversible pulpitis lasts for a few days to several weeks and at this stage your tooth is savable with a simple filling.
Ignoring the pain can be dangerous in some cases for tooth pain as once the nerve dies, the tooth is dead essentially, but the problem does not go away.
Dead tissue also quickly becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and leads to a hidden or active dental abscess.
Leaving an untreated dead tooth can also result in serious complications, including bone loss and spreading of infections.