How to Effectively Manage a Nagging Toothache At Night

How to Effectively Manage a Nagging Toothache At Night

Nov 09, 2021

At the end of a long day, all you want to do is tuck yourself into bed and drift into blissful sleep. However, there is nothing that can rob you of your beauty sleep like a toothache at night. A nagging toothache never seems to subside. Sadly, most people are unable to make an emergency dental appointment to get their teeth checked.

So, if you are stuck suffering in bed waiting for the crack of dawn for you to rush to our dental office, then you might need some nuggets of wisdom to help you sail through the night. As you read along, you will know the underlying cause of toothaches and how you can address the issues while you wait to visit our Gilbert dentist.

Causes of Toothaches at Night

Toothaches can be caused by a plethora of things that may affect the teeth and gums. You may experience sharp or throbbing pain or severe discomfort. The type of pain is dependent on what is causing it, the type of toothache, and how long the issue has remained untreated.
Sadly, if toothaches are left untreated,they will not only be uncomfortable, but they can severely affect your oral health and overall wellbeing. Either way, these are some of the causes of toothaches at night:

  • Drainage from sinus infections
  • Jaw or mouth injury due to blunt force trauma
  • An infected or abscessed tooth, which is a pocket of pus in the gums
  • Losing a filling might expose the nerves inside the tooth
  • Tooth decay, which can expose the nerves causing you to feel pain
  • Wisdom teeth crowning or teething can be excruciating as the teeth break through the gums
  • Gum disease, which causes inflammation of the gums that results in tenderness, swelling, pain, and sometimes bleeding
  • Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ) can cause pain in the jaw that can also affect the teeth
  • Teeth grinding or clenching can cause additional pain while you sleep
  • Food and other debris can be lodged in teeth and can cause pain
  • Pulpitis is a severe infection of the pulp, which also causes pain

Why Does a Toothache Intensify at Night?

You might have noticed that a toothache gets worse at night. Your nerves get stimulated intensely and will keep your brain awake that’s why it’s difficult to sleep at night. You must be wondering why this is so. Some of the reasons might include:

  • What You Ate for Dinner

Your toothache might intensify after dinner and may throb throughout the night if you had a big meal. Plus, if you ate something hot, spicy, cold, starchy, or sugary, it could worsen any issues that you might have had with your teeth.

  • Your Sleeping Position

When you lie down to sleep, blood flow to the brain will increase, making the sensitive areas of the mouth more painful. You will not feel much throbbing during the day since you spend most of your time standing or sitting.

  • Jaw Clenching During the Day

If you are under intense pressure, you might grind your teeth or clench your jaws unknowingly throughout the day. There can be a buildup of pain, which you might feel as you wind down at night.

  • Brushing Your Teeth at Night

Brushing and flossing after having dinner is paramount because it helps keep your teeth clean while you are asleep. However, you can irritate the affected area, and it might worsen the pain.

  • Fewer Distractions

Nighttime is when most people relax. There are fewer diversions, and your mind is not as engaged as it would be during the day. Therefore, there is a chance that your mind will start focusing on the discomfort caused by your toothache.

How to Improve Your Sleep

There are many ways of improving your sleep when you have a terrible toothache. However, you should still make an appointment with our Gilbert dentist so that your tooth can get checked.
But, you can try the following:

  • Avoid eating certain foods (even during the day), especially the ones that are acidic, sugary, extremely hot, or cold drinks
  • Take over the counter pain medications
  • Use a cold compress or an ice pack to help numb the area before you get into bed
  • Try rinsing your mouth with salty water
  • Sleep with your head elevated
  • Use a mouthwash that contains alcohol to disinfect and numb the teeth

After you have tried the above remedies and have rested at night, you can make your way to see our Gilbert dentist at Coral Pointe Dental & Orthodontics in the morning. You can contact us to make an emergency dental appointment.

Coral Pointe Dental and Orthodontics
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