Why is dental pain worse at night?

When I was young my mother would buy me lots of Swiss chocolate and sweets as a sign of love since she did not have enough time for me. I loved them too much most especially Frey and Teblerone chocolate were my favorite. Until now I love it and have it in my fridge.

I am not de-campaigning chocolate because it is very nice,  but I should have been wiser as a child to brush my teeth after indulging in these sweet things. I am afraid I cannot stop indulging in chocolate and I am not blaming my mother for her way of loving me. But it was a bit late for me to realise the importance of brushing my teeth after each time I ate sweet things.

Unfortunately I am about to loose two teeth, I have been trying to save my teeth through a dental surgery called "root canal" (Roots canal is a dental procedure to save a tooth by removing the diseased or injured tissue in its root.)  for six years now and I have enjoyed peaceful nights until last  night when I got a sharp headache which later became a toothache.

I could not sleep but have nightmares. I love my teeth, God gave me a very beautiful set of teeth and I am still way too young to start loosing teeth. If my 74year old grandmother still has all her teeth, why should I loose mine?

Anyway after a very stressful painful night I had to find out why toothache is worse at night

Toothache can be dull throbbing pain in the teeth or it can be a sharp sensitive pain in and around the teeth. The major causes of toothache are related to tooth decay, caries, abscessed tooth, sinusitis and teeth grinding.

Toothache often comes and goes. It can stop and then start again with intense flare-ups. The pain can be excruciating and prevent individuals from eating, sleeping and enjoying daily activities.

"The most common problem with toothache is the pain that is worsens at night. Toothache is more likely to get worse during night when you lie down or try to sleep."

Why toothache gets worse at night?
Toothache that gets worse at night may be due to several tooth or dental problems. Sinuses can result in dull throbbing tooth pain especially at night. This is due to trapped mucous on lying down thus, severe toothache.

Toothache can worsen at night because when you lay down horizontally on your bed the blood rushes more rapidly to your head and thus, exerting more pressure on the sensitive tooth. When the head is placed lower than the body the blood will be more in that area and thus, the lowered area starts to make a throbbing pain.

Moreover, one may experience mild toothache during the day because one may be busy doing daily activities and works. This can make them forget about the toothache. On reverse, during the night one is relaxed and is not concentrated on other work, hence, toothache can be felt more intensely.

What to do for a toothache that gets worse at night?
One can do the following remedies to alleviate toothache at night-

• Before sleeping, rinse the mouth by sipping some whisky and spitting it out. This may help you to have pain free sleep.
•  Stacked food particles in the teeth can also lead to toothache at night. So, flossing can help in removing any clogged foods.
• Rinsing the mouth with warm salt water after food and before going to bed can help in reducing bacteria causing toothache.
• Toothache that gets worse at night can be relieved by applying cold ice pack compress on the outside of the pain area. Ne can use raw ice cubes or soak a cloth in ice chill water and place it over the affected toothache externally.
• Clove can also help in alleviating toothache that gets worse at night. Apply few drops of clove oil on the gums or dip a cotton ball in clove oil and insert it on the toothache. It would numb the tooth pain and provide relieve to sleep without pain.
• The best thing to do is elevate the head by bundling two to three pillows under your neck.
• In case the toothache is due to abscessed tooth, then mix salt and baking soda equally, pat cotton in water and then dip it in the powder. Place the cotton in between cheek and teeth and not directly inside the tooth. One can leave a cotton ball overnight; this would relieve toothache and pressure.
• If the pain does not reduce in any case, take a painkiller such as acetaminophen or aspirin.
• Take an appointment to see a dentist and find out the cause of your toothache. this will help in eliminating the toothache permanently.

Nighttime tooth pain can be caused by a number of factors, not all necessarily related to a problem with your tooth. When you experience this pain, knowing its causes and when to seek help can help you find relief.  

Types

Tooth pain experienced at night can be your body's way of telling you you have a tooth problem or injury. If you notice this condition following dinner, the increased sensitivity can indicate an abscessed or decayed tooth, meaning bacteria are present in the tooth causing pain. These conditions can be especially exacerbated by hot or cold temperatures you experience while eating dinner. People with particularly high-stress or high-tension jobs also may experience greater tooth pain at night because their jaws have been clenched or tightened during the day and the pain builds at night, according to MedlinePlus.

Tooth grinding

Also known as bruxism, tooth grinding occurs when you clench your jaw at night. In adults, stress typically is the cause of tooth grinding, according to "Symptoms, Their Causes and Cures." While you grind or clench your teeth during the day, you are less able to control tooth grinding while you sleep. This can lead to tooth and jaw pain.

Pain Relief

If you experience tooth pain at night and don't require emergency assistance, there are some home care measures you can utilize to reduce pain. Examples including taking an over-the-counter pain medication such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, according to All Day All Night Dental, an emergency dental care resource. You also can relieve pain through icing the affected area for 10 to 20 minutes at a time or by applying a cotton swab dipped in clove oil to the affected area experiencing pain. The clove oil acts as a numbing cream.

Warning

Even if you utilize pain management techniques to mask nighttime tooth pain, it's unwise to ignore the pain and refrain from seeking treatment. Because the pain can be due to abscess or infection, these conditions should be treated because they will likely get progressively worse, according to MedlinePlus. Sometimes tooth pain is unrelated to tooth problems and can indicate conditions such as sinusitis or even a heart attack. If your pain is complicated by fever, earache or pain with movement, these are further indications you should seek medical treatment.

Source of information:

• My Tooth
• LIVESTRONG.COM