How to Sleep With a Toothache? 8 Effective Tricks and Tips

After a long exhausting day, all you need to do is lay down on your comfortable bed and fall asleep peacefully. However, if you have a nagging toothache, then getting a good night’s sleep can be difficult, and you’re hours away from seeing your dentist, so you’re stuck with disturbing dental pain throughout the night.

Fortunately, we will outline some tricks and tips that can help you get rid of toothache at night and give you some much-needed rest and how dental emergency can help. But first, let’s take a closer look at what causes toothache and why it hurts worse at night.

 

Causes of Toothache

Tooth pain can be caused by a range of factors that affect your teeth or jaws. These causes include the following: 

 

Mouth or jaw injury 

This can cause bruising and fractured or broken teeth resulting in toothache. 

 

Tooth decay

This is when the enamel of your teeth breaks down and exposes soft layers of your teeth to bacteria, which causes severe pain. 

 

Abscessed or Infected tooth

Bacteria can enter the gums or teeth due to cavities and poor oral hygiene, leading to infection and toothache. 

 

Sinus Pressure

This can cause a buildup of pressure in your head and face that radiates to the teeth, causing pain. 

 

Losing a filling

Fillings can become loose or fall out, which leads to toothache. 

 

Gum disease

Gum disease or gingivitis can lead to inflammation and pain in the teeth. 

 

Grinding

Grinding your teeth at night can cause excessive wear on the enamel, leading to toothache. 

 

Now that you know what causes toothache, let’s take a look at the reasons that worsen toothache at night and outline some of the ways you can get relief. 

 

Why Does a Toothache Hurt Worse at Night?

It may seem strange that a toothache can hurt worse at night and make it more difficult for you to fall asleep. However, there are several factors that contribute to this phenomenon:

First of all, during the day, you’re occupied with your daily activities and errands, which helps distract you from the pain. At night, however, your mind focuses more on the pain, and it amplifies. 

 

 

Furthermore, lying down at night can also exacerbate tooth pain due to increased blood circulation in the area, which makes the nerves even more sensitive.

Lastly, when you get onto your bed, more blood rushes to your head, which causes pressure to the sensitive areas in your mouth. At the same time, your body’s ability to produce natural painkillers like endorphins decreases, which allows the toothache to take over.

 

Tips for Sleeping With a Toothache

In order to get some sleep while you’re having this throbbing feeling of toothache, there are several natural remedies at home that can help reduce toothache, give you temporary relief, and improve your sleep until you get your appointment with your dentist. 

 

1. Choose your sleep position carefully

When you’re suffering from a toothache, the best sleep position is on your back with your head elevated. This helps keep blood away from the affected area and reduces pressure in the mouth. 

 

2. Use a cold compress or heating pad

Hot and ice packs can help reduce inflammation and pain. Apply an ice pack to the affected area for 15 minutes, then switch to a heating pad and repeat the process. 

 

3. Take pain medications

Over-the-counter medication and painkillers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help relieve your toothache while you sleep. However, it’s important to follow the instructions on the label and don’t exceed the recommended dosage. 

 

4. Use a mouthguard

If you’re grinding your teeth at night, then wearing a custom-made mouthguard can help protect them from further damage and also reduce pain. 

 

5. Clove Oil

Clove oil has long been used as a home remedy to relieve toothaches. Dilute a few drops of clove oil with a teaspoon of olive oil and use a cotton ball to apply the solution directly onto the affected tooth. 

 

6. Warm Saltwater Rinse

Rinsing your mouth with a mixture of warm water and salt can help reduce inflammation and pain. 

 

7. Garlic

Garlic has antibacterial and pain relief properties that can help soothe a toothache. Crush a garlic clove and apply it directly onto the affected area. 

 

8. Tea tree oil

Tea tree oil is a great antiseptic that can help relieve toothache and reduce infection, as it has inherent antibiotic properties. Dilute a few drops of tea tree oil with some water and use a cotton swab to apply it directly onto the affected area.

By following these tricks and tips, you will be able to sleep better even with a toothache. However, it’s better for you to get prompt medical help, as a toothache can lead to serious complications. Your dentist can help diagnose and treat the cause of your toothache so that you can get back to a better night’s sleep without pain. 

 

Outlook

Depending on what causes you a toothache, your dentist will determine the best treatment that fits your condition. So, if you have tooth decay, he will remove the cavities and apply a filling to your tooth.

If you have a split or cracked tooth, your dentist will treat it or recommend a replacement with an artificial tooth.

If your toothache is a result of a sinus infection, your symptoms will go away along with the infection after getting the proper treatment and taking antibiotics. 

 

Why Choose No Gaps Dental

At No Gaps Dental, you will receive top-of-the-line dental services that are guaranteed to put a smile on your face after each time you visit us. Our team is constantly updating their skills and knowledge so they can give you the best possible care; after all, you deserve it! You don’t have to suffer anymore, our team is here to help whenever you’re experiencing a toothache. So please reach out, and we’ll give you the relief you need as soon as possible. Visit our website to make an appointment now or call us on (02) 8007 6727!

 

 

 

Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks.

 

 

 

 

References

Antimicrobial Activity of Some Essential Oils—Present Status and Future Perspectives
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5622393/

Oral Health Self-Care Behaviors of Rural Older Adults
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2784128/

Toothache: First Aid
https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-toothache/basics/art-20056628

Ethnomedicinal Plants Used by Traditional Healers to Treat Oral Health Problems in Cameroon
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2015/649832/

Ethnomedicinal Plants Used by Traditional Healers to Treat Oral Health Problems in Cameroon
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4606091/