The Nighttime Toothache Mystery: 4 Reasons It Peaks After Dark

At the end of a long day, your energy may be spent, and all that’s on your mind is going to sleep. You may be excited about getting the rest you deserve, but what if you have a worsening toothache during the night? This can be frustrating to deal with; however, you may be confused more than anything. Here’s why this discomfort can hurt more at bedtime and why you should call your emergency dentist.

1.)   Change in Your Position

When it’s time to go to sleep, you likely lie down to do so. This makes your heart in line with your body, so it can pump blood upwards to your face more easily than before. With this, your blood pressure rises, but that can make your toothache worse than it was before.

2.)  Fewer Things Catch Your Attention

Throughout the day, there may be many things that distract you. From the road you drive on to dogs barking, your attention may just be split across the stimuli you’re exposed to. However, as you settle into a calm night, you may feel the things your body is telling you more so than before, such as dental pain.

3.)  Teeth Grinding or Clenching

If you feel your toothache more when you wake up in the morning, then teeth grinding or clenching might be the problem. This is a subconscious habit known as bruxism, but you may do it while you sleep. Since you may not be fully aware of it, you may notice signs like your jaw hurting and increased enamel wear.

4.)  Midnight Snacking Habits

During the night, you might’ve gotten just a bit hungry and enjoyed a little snack. While it subsided your appetite, a morsel might’ve gotten stuck between your teeth. This can lead to a dull aching, so try redoing your oral hygiene routine to knock it out of place and reduce your risk of cavities.  

Do I Have to Call My Dentist About My Toothache?

With all that said, if you have dental pain, then you should call your dentist about it. If it were food that’s the problem, then that might not warrant a visit, but there may be an underlying cause if not. Letting your provider take a look can ensure there’s nothing awry or spot the issue before more complications are caused. That way, you can get relief and get back toward comfortable nights.

About the Practice

At Rubal Dentistry Azle, our team is passionate about helping patients in the local community get fast relief when dental pain strikes. Led by Dr. Frank Rubal and Dr. Jodie Rubal, we are proud to offer same-day urgent visits when you need them most. Using state-of-the-art technology, we can find the root cause of the problem and provide you with the effective treatment you need. If you have a tooth hurting, schedule an appointment or call our office at (817) 444-2585.