Recently, you’ve been suffering from persistent pain in your teeth. The discomfort isn’t so bad during the day, but at night, it suddenly seems to grow worse, making it more difficult to get a good night’s sleep. Until your emergency dentist can help you achieve lasting relief, you’ll need to take whatever steps you can to keep your pain under control so that you can get the rest you deserve. To that end, here’s a closer look at why toothaches often get worse at night as well as steps you can take to manage the problem.
Factors That Can Make Tooth Pain Worse at Night
There can be multiple explanations for why your tooth pain seems to grow more severe when it’s time for bed:
- A Lack of Distractions: During the day, you’re likely to be engaged in plenty of activities that require your attention, which can help take your mind off your toothache. However, when you’re trying to fall asleep at night, there are fewer distractions, which can make you more aware of the pain in your tooth.
- Your Position: Whenever you lie down, it increases blood flow to the head. This can end up putting additional pressure on your teeth, thereby making the existing discomfort worse.
- Late-Night Snacks: Certain foods and beverages can trigger dental sensitivity. If you eat or drink something particularly hot, cold, or sugary shortly before bed, it could cause additional pain in your tooth.
How Can You Keep Your Tooth Pain Under Control at Night?
There are several steps you can take to reduce the pain in your tooth at night, thereby improving your ability to get a good night’s sleep. Here are a few tips worth keeping in mind:
- Take Over-the-Counter Pain Medication: Ibuprofen and similar over-the-counter pain relievers can’t stop tooth pain for good, but they can alleviate it long enough for you to fall asleep.
- Rinse with Salt Water: In many cases, rinsing with salt water can reduce dental discomfort, and it can help fight harmful bacteria. To create a salt water rinse, mix a teaspoon of salt into eight ounces of warm water until it dissolves.
- Use a Cold Compress: You can hold a cold compress over the affected tooth to reduce discomfort as well as swelling. Be sure to only use a cold compress for 15 minutes at a time.
- Keep Your Head Elevated: If lying down seems to be contributing to your tooth pain, try keeping your head elevated by stacking pillows on top of each other.
- Be Mindful of What You Eat: Take care to stay away from any foods and beverages that can potentially aggravate tooth pain before your regular bedtime.
Remember, home remedies are no substitute for professional treatment. If you want to put a stop to your nighttime tooth pain for good, you should make arrangements to see your dentist as soon as you can. They’ll be able to identify the source of your pain and help you figure out the best way to treat the underlying issue.
About the Author
Dr. Sheri McIntosh studied dentistry at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, which is recognized as one of the top dental schools in the country. She holds membership with the North Texas Dental Society, the Texas Dental Association, and various other organizations. She offers swift, high-quality emergency care for patients who are suffering from toothaches and other urgent oral health issues. If you need to request a same-day emergency appointment with Dr. McIntosh at Distinguished Dental in Fort Worth, call her at (817) 337-8300.