At the end of the day, all you want to do is slide into bed and slowly drift into blissful sleep. But nothing can rob you of your beauty sleep like a toothache in the middle of the night. A toothache at night never seems to subside. Unfortunately, most people cannot make an emergency dental appointment to receive treatment.

So, if you are stuck suffering in the dead of night, waiting for the crack of dawn to visit our dentist in Temecula, you might need some bits of wisdom that will help you brave the night. As you continue reading, we will unpack the underlying causes of tooth pain and how you can address the issue while you wait for dental care.

What Causes Toothaches at Night?

Toothaches are caused by many things that may affect your gums and teeth. The pain you may experience may be sharp or throbbing. The type of pain that you will experience will depend on the underlying cause and how long the issue has not been addressed.

Sadly, if toothaches are not treated, they will cause discomfort and severely affect your oral health and well-being. Some of the causes of toothaches at night can be:

• Jaw or mouth injury due to blunt force trauma
• Losing a filling which might expose the nerves
• Wisdom teeth crowning or teething can also cause excruciating pain as the teeth break through the gums
• Drainage from sinus infections
• An infected tooth, which has a pocket of pus on the gums
• Gum disease, which causes inflammation of the gums
• Tooth decay, which can expose the nerves
• Teeth grinding or clenching can also cause excruciating pain
• Pulpitis, which is a severe infection of the pulp
• Food and other debris lodged in between your teeth
• Temporomandibular joint disorders (TND) can cause jaw pain that may also affect the teeth

Why Does a Toothache Worsen at Night?

For some reason, toothaches seem to worsen at night. Your nerves will get stimulated at night and may keep your brain awake, so you will find it difficult to sleep at night. Some of the reasons toothaches worsen at night might include the following:

What You Ate for Dinner

Your toothache might worsen after dinner and throb throughout the night, especially if you had a big meal. The pain might worsen if you eat something hot, cold, spicy, or sugary.

Jaw Clenching During the Day

You may clench or grind your teeth if you are under intense pressure during the day. The buildup of pain might finally catch up with you as you wind down at night.

Your Sleeping Position

When you sleep, there will be more blood flow to the brain, which might intensify any sensitive areas of the mouth. You may have felt a dull throbbing pain during the day because you have been sitting or standing. However, when you sleep, the increase in blood flow will cause you more pain.

Fewer Distractions

Nighttime is when we relax, so there are fewer distractions. Your mind now will have more time to focus on the pain; therefore, it is no wonder that the pain will intensify.

How Can You Improve Your Sleep?

There are some tricks that you can apply when you have a terrible toothache. However, you should still make an appointment with our emergency dentist near you to check your tooth. But you can try the following:

• Avoid eating certain foods, even during the day, especially if they are sugary, acidic, extremely hot or cold beverages
• Take over-the-counter pain medications to help reduce the pain
• Use warm salt water to rinse your mouth since it has anti-inflammatory properties
• Sleep with your head elevated
• Use a cold compress, such as an ice pack, to help numb the affected area before you get into bed
• Use a mouthwash that has alcohol to help disinfect and numb the affected area

Hopefully, some of the remedies mentioned above will help you get some relief as you wait for the crack of dawn. After you rest, reach out to our dentist near you for dental treatment. Contact us at Elevate Dental if you wish to get dental care.