Many people with toothache during the day experience increased pain at night. This pain can become throbbing and make it difficult to get a good night’s sleep. Some types of tooth sensitivity are only temporary. But if you are suffering with persistent or severe tooth pain at night then you could have a problem with your teeth that needs to be treated by a dentist.
Some common causes of tooth pain at night are tooth decay, dental infection, gum disease, cracked teeth, wisdom teeth problems and teeth grinding. Taking painkillers can give temporary relief but it does not cure the problem.
Tooth pain at night can be a persistent dental problem but getting it treated in Patna at the right time can save you from greater misery in days to come. So, in this blog, we’ll explore why tooth pain increases during the night, what we can do for relief during night, and when it becomes a dental emergency.
Why Does My Toothache Get Worse at Night?
Acknowledging the reasons for a toothache to feel worse at night will help you know when you need to see a dental professional for treatment.
1. Deep Tooth Decay
Decay in the tooth can cause a toothache. Typically early stage cavities do not cause any symptoms, however, as the decay progresses deeper into the tooth, it can cause discomfort to the dental pulp. When the cavity is deep enough into the tooth, it can cause pain because it is affecting the dental pulp. That’s why, root canal treatment in Patna is indeed to remove the infected or inflamed pulp to save your natural tooth.
2. Lying Down May Increase Pressure
Increased sensitivity at night is partly due to our sleeping position. When we are lying down, there is a change in the distribution of blood in the head and face. This in turn can cause increased pressure on areas of tooth inflammation.
3. Less Distractions at Night
During the day, you are usually busy with work, with household and garden, with phone calls and e-mails and so on. These distractions usually keep relatively mild pain in the dentition successfully below the threshold of awareness. At night, when everything is quiet, you may become much more aware of your tooth pain.
4. Dental Infection
An infected tooth is another of the causes of the most severe tooth pain. The bacteria can penetrate into the tooth’s inner parts when they get into a tooth that has been damaged or decayed in some way.
Some common signs of dental infection include:
- Severe or persistent toothache.
- Swollen gums or pus around the tooth.
- Facial or jaw swelling.
- Pain while biting or chewing.
- Bad taste or unpleasant smell in the mouth.
- Increased sensitivity or fever.
- Difficulty opening the mouth.
The symptoms above could indicate an infection. Don’t ignore them as they may need a prompt dental treatment.
Other Reasons Your Tooth May Hurt at Night
Not all night-time tooth pain is caused by tooth decay or infection. There might be other reasons as well. Let’s check it out:
Cracked or Broken Tooth
Pain from a cracked tooth can be sharp and occur when you bite down or when you release your bite. It can occur at random times and become more noticeable at night depending on the location and extent of the crack.
Gum Disease
Inflamed gums can be sore and bleed, becoming red and swollen. Advanced gum disease can cause pain and even cause teeth to become loose due to the inflammation to the tissues that support the teeth. It’s better to go for a dental check-up in Patna when you’re experiencing gum issues, though it may increase your pain while having cold/hot food.
Tooth Sensitivity
Your enamel may wear down due to various reasons. This can cause your dentin to be exposed and result in extreme sensitivity to hot and cold items, such as beverages and foods, as well as to sweets and acids.
Wisdom Tooth Problems
Impacted or partially erupted wisdom teeth can give rise to pain or gum inflammation and/or space for food to get trapped amongst which can lead to further inflammation and/or pain at night.
Teeth Grinding and Clenching
Some people unconsciously grind their teeth during their sleep, a phenomenon known as bruxism and it can have serious consequences for the teeth and jaw.
Possible symptoms include:
- Morning jaw soreness.
- Tooth sensitivity.
- Worn or flattened teeth.
- Tooth pain after waking.
- Jaw tightness or headaches.
As of now, you understand why the tooth pain increases during night. Now, if you are experiencing the above mentioned tooth pain during sleep at night, you must visit the trusted dental clinic in Patna to get the best treatment.
What Can You Do for Tooth Pain at Night?
If you develop a toothache at night and are unable to get to a dentist for treatment, there are a few temporary measures that may help relieve your dental discomfort.
- Elevate your head when sleeping using an extra pillow to ease the pressure.
- As with a sore gum, a gentle rinse with warm salt water can help heal your mouth and reduce discomfort.
- You may use a cold compress outside of your cheek if you have swelling or pain in your face.
- Try to gently clean the area between your teeth using your toothbrush and floss.
- Take over-the-counter pain relief medicines, as these can help ease the toothache pain at night. But, they only provide you temporary relief, not the permanent solution.
- Do not place aspirin on the affected tooth or gum as this can cause irritation and possibly even damage to the soft tissues.
Remember that these tips are to alleviate short term pain and do not cure any dental emergency problems such as decay or infection.
When Is Tooth Pain a Dental Emergency?
Most dental problems can be treated in due course, but some situations require urgent attention. Seek urgent dental care if you experience severe or rapidly worsening tooth pain, significant facial or jaw swelling, pus around a tooth, fever associated with dental pain, or difficulty opening your mouth.
Additionally, a knocked-out permanent tooth, a severely broken or fractured tooth, or severe pain following an accident or injury also requires prompt dental care. If you experience severe facial or neck swelling that causes difficulty breathing or swallowing, seek immediate emergency medical care.
Choosing a Trusted Dental Clinic in Patna
Are you suffering from tooth pain and are searching for a dental clinic in Patna? The dental clinic you choose for your dental treatment should provide correct dental diagnosis, treat your dental problem properly, maintain dental hygiene, provide due care to her patients and clearly communicate with them.
Though, if you’re searching for the best dentist in Patna, then, don’t just go for a temporary pain relief solution. Get the best dental evaluation done and know why your tooth is aching and what treatment you need for the problem.
At Dr. Aishwarya, B.D.S., M.D.S. (Gold Medalist), we are a group of dentists who follow a simple policy of providing a quality dental evaluation and subsequent dental treatment to each individual patient for his/her dental problems. A dental evaluation for tooth decay, sensitive tooth, infected tooth, gum problems or a cracked tooth and root canal treatment is required at the right time.
Don’t Let Tooth Pain Keep You Awake
It is essential to note that you must not ignore tooth pain that persists at night, even though some temporary relief measures are available to alleviate toothache. A toothache can be a constant reminder that you have a serious dental problem, such as tooth decay, dental infection, gum inflammation, a cracked tooth or gum disease.
If you are suffering from a persistent toothache or signs of dental infection such as pain, swelling and sensitivity then a dental check up is required in order to diagnose and then treat your dental problem in order to save your natural teeth.
For an accurate dental evaluation and dental treatment in Patna, patients can visit Dr. Aishwarya, B.D.S., M.D.S. (Gold Medalist). Early diagnosis of the cause of pain is the first step to treat it and save your natural teeth.
