Teeth that appear pink are teeth that have been traumatized, but not necessarily broken. The pink color is due to bleeding in the pulp chamber. With time, the color will change to purple and ultimately to gray. These discolored teeth are a source of pain and in­fection on a daily basis. When bleeding occurs inside a tooth, the hard tissues of the tooth do not allow the in­jured pulp any relief from the pressure and swelling. The end result of this process is that the pulp dies. The dead pulp provides a safe haven for bacteria that regularly enter the bloodstream. As with broken teeth, an abscess will develop at the root tip. Discolored teeth should always be evaluated and x-rayed to determine if the tooth must be extracted or, hopefully, salvaged by performing a root canal procedure.

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