Did a tooth that felt fine (or only slightly sensitive) during the day suddenly start throbbing the moment your head hit the pillow? You are not alone. One of the most common complaints we hear in dentistry is, "Doctor, I was fine during the day, but I couldn't sleep all night due to the pain."

So, why does toothache intensify specifically at night, and what can you do at home to relieve it until your morning appointment? As PYS Dent, we have compiled what you need to know to get through this difficult night.

Why Does Toothache Increase at Night?

The reason is physiological, not just psychological. There are two main reasons for the intensification of pain at night:

1. Change in Blood Pressure: When you lie down, blood pressure in the head area increases. If there is inflammation inside your tooth (pulpitis), this increased pressure pushes against the nerves of the tooth. This causes a sensation of "throbbing like a heartbeat."

2. Fewer Distractions: During the day, work, traffic, and conversations distract our brains. However, in the silence of the night, the brain focuses more on the signals from the body, lowering our pain threshold.

What Can You Do at Home to Relieve Pain? (First Aid)

If you are reading this in the middle of the night, you likely need immediate relief. Here are safe methods you can try until you reach your dentist in the morning:

• Elevate Your Head: Keeping your head above heart level can reduce blood pressure in the area and alleviate throbbing. Try sleeping with two pillows.

• Cold Compress: Applying a cold compress to the outside of your cheek constricts the blood vessels, reducing swelling and pain. (Wrap the ice in a towel; do not apply directly to the skin).

• Salt Water Rinse: Mix a teaspoon of salt into a glass of warm water. This mixture acts as a natural disinfectant; it cleans out food particles trapped between teeth and soothes edema in the gums.

• Painkillers: You can use over-the-counter painkillers that you have used before or that your doctor has recommended.

WARNING! Do Not Do These

Common misconceptions can increase the damage to your tooth and complicate treatment:

• Never Place Aspirin or Alcohol Directly on the Tooth: These substances do not stop the pain; on the contrary, they cause severe chemical burns on your gums. You do not want to add a gum wound to your existing pain.

• Do Not Apply Heat: Placing a hot water bottle on an inflamed tooth can cause the infection to spread and the pain to intensify.

Permanent Solution: Why Should You See a Doctor?

This pain you experience at night is an "emergency" signal from your body. Even if you feel relief with painkillers in the morning, the problem has not disappeared. The source of the pain could be:

• Deep cavities and nerve damage,

• Dental abscess (infection),

• Trauma caused by teeth grinding (Bruxism).

These problems do not heal on their own. Every delayed treatment can lead a tooth that could be saved with a simple filling to root canal treatment or even extraction.

Conclusion

As PYS Dent Kayseri, our advice is to apply the methods above to get through the night, but definitely visit our clinic for a check-up even if the pain subsides. Early intervention saves both your tooth and your sleep.

We wish you healthy smiles and pain-free nights.