20 October 2022

Why Do My Teeth Hurt at Night?

If your teeth hurt at night (pain and discomfort might be worse in the evening), some of the possible causes are: 

  • Increased blood flow to the head (when you lie on your bed) 
  • Fewer distractions at night (and more focus to the toothache we feel) 
  • Grinding teeth (grinding can put too much pressure on your teeth and jaw) 
  • Stuck food particles between your teeth and gums (especially after late night meals) 
  • Gum disease 
  • Dental abscess 

Although you can still endure the pain, it might make it hard for you to fall asleep. Also, you might already be starting to think that the pain might get worse anytime. In this case, it’s good to consult a dentist and find out what’s causing your teeth to hurt more at night.  

Temporary relief from toothache at night 

If it’s impossible for you to visit the dentist right away, you can try one of the following methods below to ease the pain: 

  • Over-the-counter pain medications (e.g. paracetamol for temporary relief of pain) 
  • Cold compress (helps reduce swelling and inflammation, which results in less pain) 
  • Elevation with an extra pillow (to somehow reduce blood flow coming into the head) 
  • Over-the-counter numbing gels and ointments 
  • Salt water rinse (antibacterial agent, may also help reduce inflammation) 
  • Hydrogen peroxide rinse (reduce symptoms of gum infection) 
  • Garlic (with strong antibacterial properties which can help relieve tooth pain) 

These are only temporary solutions because the pain might still come back anytime. You should seek a more permanent solution and effective treatment to get rid of the pain for good (and spare yourself from more expensive procedures down the road). 

When to see a dentist 

Even if you can still endure the pain and discomfort, you should still visit a dental clinic as soon as you can. This is to prevent the pain from getting worse and perhaps give the dentist a better chance to save the damaged tooth. 

Also, a toothache can be a sign of serious infection. If neglected, that toothache, although still tolerable, can lead to gum disease, tooth loss and abscesses (infection might spread deeper into your jaw, throat and other parts of your body). 

If your teeth hurt and even if it’s just some mild pain or discomfort, contact us today here at Rose Dental and book an appointment. We’re open 6 days a week (Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm).