Presione Aqui
You managed to push through the day with a dull ache in your tooth. But the second your head hits the pillow, it turns into a throbbing, sore, and all-consuming problem. Sound familiar? You’re not imagining it—toothaches really do tend to get worse at night, and there are a few good reasons why. Here’s why this common dental emergency tends to sharpen as you try to sleep.
There’s Increased Blood Flow
Gravity isn’t often your friend, and that goes doubly so in this case. When you’re upright during the day, blood circulates throughout your body evenly. However, when you lie down, it flows to your head, and that increased pressure can intensify the throbbing significantly. It’s the same reason headaches sometimes feel worse when you plop down on the couch.
Distractions Disappear
During the day, your brain has plenty to focus on between work, family, conversations, and tasks. So, while the pain is still there, your mind can block it out somewhat. At night, however, when your room is quiet and there’s nothing else competing for your attention, that’s not the case. The throbbing discomfort doesn’t actually get worse—it just dominates your mental space.
Grinding and Clenching
Many people clench or grind their teeth at night without realizing it. If a tooth is already sensitive or inflamed, the extra pressure from nighttime bruxism can make an already painful situation much worse by morning. While a nightguard won’t help with a dental emergency in progress, it can protect your teeth as you sleep.
What You Can Do in the Meantime
While you’re waiting to get into the dentist’s office, there are a few things you can do to take the edge off:
- Sleep with your head slightly elevated to reduce blood flow.
- Take over-the-counter pain relievers around 30 minutes before bed.
- Apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek to dull discomfort.
- Use a topical numbing agent containing benzocaine to numb the area.
- Rinse your mouth with warm, salty water to reduce bacteria and soothe inflammation.
These can help you make it to your appointment, but a toothache that keeps you up at night should be treated, not waited out. As soon as you can, schedule a consultation with your dentist. They can find the source of your discomfort and help you get back to sleeping with a smile.
About the Practice
At A New Smile Dental Canyon Country, our team offers same-day emergency appointments to help patients get fast relief from toothaches and other urgent dental issues. Whether it’s a persistent ache or sudden tooth pain keeping you up at night, we’re happy to help you find the cause and get you comfortable again. Call us at (661) 251-0480 to schedule your visit and sleep soundly once again.