How Can I Stop a Toothache at Night?

How can I stop a toothache at night?

You can often take the edge off a toothache at night by raising your head on an extra pillow, using an over-the-counter pain reliever as the label directs, rinsing with warm salt water, and applying a cold compress to the outside of your cheek if swollen. Swelling needs prompt dental care, and these steps do not fix the cause.

Raise your head

The Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust advises keeping your head elevated at night with an extra pillow, which it says can relieve pressure within a tooth and reduce pain.

Use pain relief the safe way

Cleveland Clinic lists over-the-counter pain relievers as an option for toothache. Read the label, and ask a pharmacist or your doctor first if you take other medicines, are pregnant, or have health conditions. We cannot give you a dose here.

Rinse and cool

Cleveland Clinic suggests mixing half a teaspoon of salt into 8 ounces of warm water, swishing for 30 seconds, and spitting it out. If your mouth is swollen, the Cleveland Clinic dental emergencies page says a cold compress on the outside of your mouth or cheek can help. It also warns that aspirin or any other painkiller placed against your gums or tooth may burn the gum tissue.

If the pain keeps coming back, our toothache relief in Smyrna page explains how we look for the cause.

Why do I have tooth pain only at night?

Tooth pain can feel stronger at night. Possible reasons include fewer distractions, lying flat, and clenching or grinding your teeth in your sleep, though no single cause fits everyone. The pain may come from the same problem you had all day, such as a cavity, a crack, or an infection, and you can now notice it.

Quiet makes it louder

During the day, work, screens and conversation compete for your attention. At night, there is nothing else to focus on, so a steady ache can feel much bigger.

Lying flat may add pressure

Some people notice more throbbing when they lie down. The trust advice above says raising your head can relieve pressure within a tooth, though every mouth is different.

Nighttime grinding

Clenching or grinding while you sleep can make a sore tooth feel worse by morning. If you wake with a sore jaw, ask us about night guards.

Pain that keeps returning at night

A tooth that aches in a deep, throbbing way, especially without a trigger, may point to a problem inside the tooth. Our post on how long a tooth can hurt before the nerve dies goes deeper on this.

Want this checked? Tell us what you are feeling and we can help you work out the next step: book online or call (770) 863-0005.

When should you call a dentist right away?

Call a dentist as soon as you can if a toothache lasts longer than two days, or if you have facial swelling, a pimple on your gum, or pain that medicine does not ease. Go to the ER or call 911 for a fever over 101 degrees Fahrenheit, swelling that spreads across your face or neck, or any trouble breathing, swallowing or speaking.

Red flags that need prompt care

• Pain that lasts longer than two days.

• Swelling in your face or jaw.

• A bubble or pimple on your gum.

• Pain that does not get better with medication.

• Bleeding that will not stop.

When to go to the ER or call 911

Go to the ER or call 911 if you have swelling that spreads across your face or neck, swelling around your eye, a fever over 101 degrees Fahrenheit, or any trouble breathing or swallowing. Cleveland Clinic lists a fever over 101 degrees Fahrenheit and swelling below the eye among reasons to visit the ER, and the NHS says swelling that makes it hard to breathe, swallow or speak needs an ambulance.

During office hours, call (770) 863-0005 and we will help find the earliest visit available. If our office is closed and you have swelling, a fever over 101 degrees Fahrenheit, or bleeding that will not stop, do not wait for morning. Go to the nearest ER. Our emergency dentist in Smyrna page has more detail.

What can I do if I can't sleep due to a toothache?

If a toothache keeps you awake, raise your head with an extra pillow, use pain relief as the label directs, and try a warm salt water rinse. Avoid sweet, very hot, and very cold foods, since the NHS advises against them when you have a toothache.

Small changes that may help

• Skip sweet, very hot, and very cold foods.

• Try to avoid chewing with the sore tooth.

• Use a soft toothbrush, and avoid flossing right around the sore tooth.

• Keep a note of when the pain starts and what makes it worse. It helps us when you come in.

Do not wait it out for long

Home steps only buy time. Both Cleveland Clinic and the NHS say to see a dentist if pain lasts more than about two days. For a broader look at timing, see the 3-3-3 rule for tooth pain.

What stops tooth pain immediately?

Nothing at home reliably stops tooth pain right away or for good. An over-the-counter pain reliever used as the label directs may dull it for a while, and a cold compress may help with swelling. Only a dentist can treat the cause, such as decay, a crack, or an infection.

Why home care is only a bridge

Pain relievers and rinses treat the symptom. If a cavity or infection is behind the pain, it may keep growing while you sleep.

What a dentist may do

After an exam, we can explain what is causing the pain and talk through your options, which may include a tooth-colored filling or other treatment depending on the cause. You can read more in our posts on easing a toothache and severe toothache relief.