Why is My Toothache Worse at Night?

If you have a toothache, it probably already hurts enough during the day to be problematic. The last thing you need is for it to feel worse when you’re ready to head to bed. But why does that happen? Here are three surprising reasons why your tooth pain may intensify when it’s time to go to sleep.

Focus on Pain

During the day, it’s easy to become distracted with your job, family, and social life. Thus, you may be less inclined to focus on tooth pain. But at night when it’s time to relax, all bets are off. That’s because with nothing occupying your attention, you’ve got plenty of time to notice that your mouth hurts, which can keep you awake and miserable all night long!

Increased Blood Circulation

Lying down increases the blood flow to your brain, which in turn means more tooth pain than you might experience if you were simply sitting or standing. This is because excess blood is amplifying the pressure on your damaged tooth. Thus, if you must sleep with an untreated toothache, try to do it with your head elevated.

Teeth Grinding

If you find yourself waking up with tooth or jaw pain, you could be suffering from bruxism (teeth grinding) without even realizing it.

Telltale signs of bruxism include:

• Worn tooth enamel
• Waking with tooth pain
• A stiff jaw
• Tooth pain that radiates behind your forehead
• Excessive sleepiness

Remember, if you are experiencing tooth pain that intensifies at night, you don’t have to live like this. Don’t let oral health pain keep you from getting a good night’s sleep. 

About Dr. Schaffeld

Dr. Tyler Schaffeld is proud to provide a variety of oral health treatments to restore patients’ smiles and improve their oral health. If you are experiencing lingering tooth pain that has lasted longer than 24 hours, it’s time to see the dentist. Dr. Schaffeld is a member of the American Dental Association, Oregon Dental Association, and the Academy of General Dentistry. Let him help you get the sleep you deserve. Schedule an emergency dental appointment today by calling us at 541-426-3783, or visit our website.