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Toothache is not an enjoyable experience. It doesn't only hurt your teeth or gums, but it can affect your entire body as well.
During the day, toothaches can be bearable. However, have you ever noticed that it gets worse at night? We'll explore several reasons for this occurrence in the following section. Keep reading to find out why toothaches become more unbearable during the night.
1. You had a late-night snack.
The first reason your teeth hurt badly at night is that you had a late-night snack. If you are into sugary foods, they can lead to plaque build-up on your teeth. As may or may not be aware of this, plaque is an invisible accumulation of bacteria dwelling on the surface of your teeth and gums. This bacteria eats sugar and produces cavity-causing acid that can significantly weaken your teeth. If you eat late at night, remember to brush your teeth after eating before sleeping. Proper oral hygiene is essential in helping reduce toothaches.
2. You have more blood circulation during sleep.
Blood circulation causes your tooth pain to throb even more. This is because more blood gets rushed to your brain when you lie down to sleep, resulting in the increased blood flow that exerts pressure on your painful tooth. The extent of your toothache significantly differentiates between lying down and standing. Make sure to use thick pillows to lift your head while you sleep.
3. You tend to grind your teeth at night.
Teeth grinding is another factor as to why toothaches get worse at night. Also known as Bruxism, teeth grinding is a condition in which you grind, gnash or clench your teeth unconsciously when you're awake or while you're sleeping. Teeth grinding usually occurs during sleep caused by stress and anxiety. Most people who grind their teeth at night have no idea what they're doing. For this reason, you may wake up in the morning with dental pain. If you think you're experiencing teeth grinding, contact your dentist as soon as possible. Your dentist will be able to create a custom night guard for you to protect against teeth grinding.
4. You have fewer distractions at night.
Because there are fewer distractions at night, you'll concentrate more on your toothache. The human brain is capable of focusing on many things at a time. During the day, you can keep yourself distracted and try to do other things so you won’t think about the pain. However, there's less going on to distract you at night from your toothache, particularly when you're trying to fall asleep. For this reason, some patients report feeling more intense toothaches at night.
At this point, you now have an idea now as to why toothaches intensify at night. Toothaches are your body's way of indicating that you need to take care of your oral health as much as you would care for your health in general. Should you get inflicted with tooth pain, request an appointment with an emergency dentist. Visit your dentist as soon as possible, and see how they can help you address your toothache situation.
If you’re looking for a local dentist to help you with your toothaches, get in touch with us today for a free consultation!
