Why do teeth hurt mostly at night and not during the day? This question interests a lot of people. Quite often, patients complain that the pain intensifies mainly at night. There are diseases that lead to the development of such ailments. Toothache develops due to the fact that the oral cavity contains a large number of nerve fibers, which become inflamed under the influence of various factors.
Common Causes of Pain
Experts identify the following diseases that lead to the development of toothache:
- Caries. The development of caries leads to damage to tooth enamel and dentin. In the resulting carious cavity, pathogenic microorganisms accumulate and rapidly multiply. When caries reaches a complicated stage, harmful bacteria practically reach the pulp, which is penetrated by nerve fibers. Pain syndrome occurs under the influence of irritating factors.
- Pulpitis. At this stage, damage to the pulp occurs, an inflammatory process develops in it, which spreads to all nerve endings. Painful sensations can occur without any external signs of disease.
- Periodontitis. With this disease, the inflammatory process develops in the tissues surrounding the tooth.
- Flux. This complication appears in the absence of timely treatment of pulpitis. The danger is that the developed inflammatory process spreads to the jaw and periosteum.
- Non-carious lesions of the enamel and hard layers of teeth. They arise as a result of mechanical damage to the tooth, resulting in destruction of the enamel. The main cause of pain with such a lesion is the same processes that occur during diseases.
- After the tooth filling procedure. When filling is performed incorrectly, when the specialist performs the manipulations incorrectly or does not follow the correct procedure, the patient may experience unpleasant pain, which intensifies mainly at night.
- After tooth extraction. Painful sensations that worsen at night may develop after tooth extraction.
Toothache
Why do my teeth hurt?
With the help of pain, our body signals about some problem. When you see a dentist, you need to describe your sensations as accurately as possible, since diseases are initially determined precisely by the nature of the pain.
So, let's start with the simplest thing. You have noticed that your teeth react painfully to cold, hot, sour, brushing your teeth, and also when you go outside and breathe in cold air. Most likely, the structure of the enamel is damaged. Such pain occurs for only a few seconds and quickly disappears.
The reason for its appearance may be:
- cracks, chips and abrasions
- thinning of enamel
- increased enamel sensitivity
The situation can be corrected using a special procedure - remineralization. It will help restore the structure of the enamel by saturating it with useful substances. It is also worth replacing your usual toothpaste with a special one with a high content of calcium or fluoride. Consult your dentist and he will tell you how best to proceed.
What else causes toothache?
Sometimes a tooth hurts due to diseases of neighboring organs. Painful sensations appear in the following cases:
- inflammation of the ear, nose and throat
- damage to the temporomandibular joint
- cervical spine injuries
In fact, the pain simply “radiates” into the tooth, but due to the high sensitivity of the soft tissues, it seems that it comes precisely from the root of the tooth or gum.
There are situations when a patient comes to the dentist and complains about a completely healthy tooth - this is already psychosomatics. Unpleasant sensations can appear due to severe stress, lack of sleep, or overload.
Pain due to dental diseases
In the vast majority of cases, the tooth is bothered due to caries, its complications and some other diseases. The nature of the ailment depends on which tooth is bothering you: the upper, lower or wisdom tooth.
Toothache can be:
- acute
- constant
- paroxysmal
- pulsating
As we have already said, the nature of the pain indicates a particular disease. If you feel a sharp, sharp “tingling” in your tooth while eating, but the unpleasant sensation disappears as soon as you remove the irritant, then this indicates caries. When the pain intensifies in the evening, and you are tormented by attacks all night, then this is a sure sign of inflammation of the nerve of the tooth.
Unbearable, throbbing toothache, deterioration in general condition, elevated temperature, swelling of the gums near the disturbing tooth indicate periodontitis. This disease requires immediate examination by a specialist.
When discomfort is accompanied by swelling of the gums or cheeks, serious inflammation of the gums (periodontitis) is possible. In such a situation, you need to immediately make an appointment with the dentist, since periodontitis leads to tooth loss.
What to do if you have a toothache?
You were calmly going about your business, but suddenly you were struck by severe pain and you absolutely don’t know how to get rid of it. If a tooth “aches” while brushing or eating, immediately remove the irritant and rinse your mouth with water. Pay special attention to the troubled tooth, as you need to get rid of any leftover food and toothpaste.
How to act in case of severe toothache?
- remember the approximate time during which the tooth calmed down
- see if there is damage to the tooth, swelling of the gums or cheeks
- make an appointment with the dentist soon
If your child has a toothache, then you need to act carefully and quickly make an appointment with a dentist, since only he will be able to correctly determine the cause of the pain and eliminate it. You can ease your baby's suffering by applying a cold compress to the cheek on the side of the sore tooth.
Can a tooth hurt after treatment?
You visited the dentist, underwent treatment, but when you came home, the tooth hurt again. Do not panic; discomfort after treatment may last from 1 to 3 days.
Your tooth may hurt after:
- root canal treatment and filling
- nerve removal
In both cases, you did not undergo the most simple operations, so pain is a completely natural reaction of the tissues to the intervention. The main criterion in this case is that the strength of the pain decreases: it hurt a lot, then less, and sometimes you didn’t notice how it went away. If the pain does not subside, but increases, this is a reason to return to the clinic.
Pain after tooth extraction is also quite normal. Is your cheek swollen or your gums swollen? There is nothing wrong with this, since even with the most careful extraction of the root, the surrounding tissues are damaged, albeit slightly. The discomfort will gradually disappear as the hole heals.
How to get rid of toothache at home?
An aching tooth will prevent you from going about your business in peace. What to do in this situation, especially if it is not possible to visit a dentist in the near future?
The easiest way out is to take pills. Any painkiller that is not too strong will do; take it according to the instructions on the package.
Anesthetics relieve only the symptoms of the disease, and only for a while. Do not get carried away with painkillers, as they weaken the effect of anesthesia, which may be needed during treatment in the clinic.
Traditional methods will also help you get rid of toothache at home. The surest way to calm a tooth is rinsing.
For this you can use:
- a solution of soda with a few drops of iodine
- saline solution (it is better to use sea salt)
- decoctions of sage, chamomile, yarrow, mint, lemon balm, St. John's wort
- alcoholic drinks and tinctures diluted with water
Pressing on certain points can help relieve toothache. This method will also help out when you do not have the opportunity to take medicine or prepare a healing infusion. You need to press on the acupuncture points; according to all the rules of this ancient Chinese movement, needles are placed in special places, but you won’t need them.
Clench your teeth tightly and use your thumbs to massage the raised bumps. You can also rub the area between the thumb and index finger, the point between the upper lip and nose.
Traditional methods will relieve toothache only for a short period of time, so visit the dentist as soon as possible.
When should you see a dentist?
To ensure that your teeth are always healthy and the likelihood of sudden pain is as low as possible, you should regularly visit the dentist for a preventive examination. In addition, you need to undergo professional oral hygiene twice a year to remove soft and hard plaque, since it is this that causes caries and other diseases.
If you experience acute toothache, try to visit the dentist as quickly as possible, preferably on the same day. This will help you avoid unnecessary worries, costs and start treatment in a timely manner.
Still have questions? Ask them to us
Severe toothache does not give you time to think and search for a specialist, but even in such a situation you want to get to a competent specialist, so that later you do not have to treat the tooth due to caries under the filling or improperly closed canals. At the MediLine clinic, we are always ready to provide you with emergency dental care and restore your healthy smile.
If you have any questions, write to us. We will definitely respond to you within one day.
Zabirova Gulia Rafikovna
Dentist-therapist
Work experience: 17 years
Physiological processes
The most common factors that cause pain at night are physiological. Most often, this phenomenon is caused by a horizontal position taken during rest. In this position, blood flows intensely to the head, brain and jaws, which increases pressure on the inflamed tissues and nerve endings of the teeth. It should be noted that this process is not typical for all dental diseases. The most common cause of acute and severe toothache at night is pulpitis. At this time of day, excessive pressure forms in the inflamed pulp due to increased blood flow, and bundles of nerve fibers begin to send active signals to the central nervous system. Excruciating pain, mainly at night, can also occur with periodontitis and periodontitis.
Physiological factors
A separate group of reasons why patients experience toothache at night includes physiological factors:
- The time interval is from 00 o'clock to 5 am. This period of time is the most stressful and difficult for the entire human body. It is at this time that pain intensifies and sensitivity to any lesions and diseases, including dental ones, increases.
- Physiologists say that at night the vagus nerve called the vagus is activated, which has a large number of branches, some of which extend to the head area. The vagus affects the general condition and mood of a person. At night, the tone of the vagus nerve changes, which leads to increased sensitivity and pain.
- Also, based on the characteristics of the biorhythm, at night, even in a healthy person, blood pressure increases significantly. High blood pressure increases toothache.
Causes of night pain
The triggers for nighttime restlessness are different.
- Inflammation in the body is controlled by the adrenal glands. During the day, they secrete special hormones that suppress the inflammatory process. The pain threshold in the active state is reduced, but at night it manifests itself strongly.
- Inflammation of the gum tissue is accompanied by swelling, which compresses the nerve bundle. A pain impulse is sent to the brain.
- From midnight until the morning, people become more acutely aware of painful manifestations, especially if their wisdom teeth are bothering them.
- The vagus nerve changes its status at night, so pain sensitivity may increase.
- Pulpitis in the patient's resting state manifests itself with particular force. There may be a feeling that the chewing organ has grown and become mobile.
- Entry of food debris into deep carious cavities when the unit is seriously damaged.
- At night, the filling of the tooth and the organ under the crown hurt more, since the inflamed area is in a confined space.
- A disease of those tissues that support the position of the unit in the gum, that is, periodontitis.
- Periodontitis is a pathological inflammatory process at the root apex.
- The tooth begins to hurt at night with gingivitis and with an abscess, with inflammation of the periosteum and nasal sinuses.
There is no need to push yourself to extremes; be sure to see your dentist in the morning!
Other lesions
Sometimes pain that is mistaken for a toothache may be due to the effects of other diseases. These include:
- Inflammation of the tertiary nerve can cause severe jaw pain at night. As a result of the influence of various factors, the nerve can be severely irritated, which leads to sensations that can easily be confused with toothache.
- If toothache is felt not only in the area of one tooth, but spreads throughout the entire jaw, then such phenomena may be symptoms of inflammation of the periosteum of the tooth, and even some ENT diseases: sinusitis, sinusitis and otitis media. In a horizontal position, the outflow of fluid from the sinuses is hampered, which increases the discomfort and spreads it to the entire jaw.
In some cases, toothache at night can occur for reasons that are not related to dentistry. For example, due to severe exhaustion of the nervous system, lack of sleep or regular smoking.
Pain in the left hypochondrium
Pain in the left hypochondrium usually occurs with pancreatitis. The pain is usually dull or aching. They are noted in the upper and middle parts of the abdomen, as well as in the left hypochondrium. At the time of exacerbation, the intensity of pain increases significantly. Quite often, during an exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis, girdle pain in the abdomen is observed, which spreads from the left hypochondrium to the back. Deterioration of chronic pancreatitis usually occurs after drinking alcohol, fatty or spicy foods.
In case of exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis, it is necessary to create rest for the pancreas as quickly as possible. If the pain is very severe, you need to refuse food, call a doctor and apply ice to the upper abdomen in the epigastric region. It should be remembered that the ice should not come into direct contact with the skin, and the duration of the procedure should not exceed 15-20 minutes for each subsequent hour. If the pain is of moderate intensity, you should visit a gastroenterologist as soon as possible.
What to do if your tooth hurts badly at night
It should be remembered that all independent procedures will only help temporarily reduce pain and not eliminate the disease. The most common folk methods include:
- Painkillers. Such medications effectively help eliminate unpleasant symptoms, which alleviates the general condition of a person. The dosage of drugs should be taken according to the instructions. Overdosing on a medicine can cause serious problems.
- The use of tinctures of medicinal herbs for rinsing the mouth. The following herbs are suitable for these purposes: calendula, oak bark, calamus root, chamomile, plantain and sage. They have anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effects. Infusions should be used only if there are no allergic reactions to the herbs used.
- Rinse with salt solution. This solution helps to temporarily eliminate discomfort and make you feel better. It does not cause allergies.
If the temperature rises sharply or swelling occurs, this may be a sign of the spread of the inflammatory process. In such a situation, you must immediately seek the help of a specialist.
Visit to the dental office
When visiting a dental clinic, the specialist will conduct a thorough examination of the oral cavity, then prescribe the patient to undergo an x-ray examination. Images are necessary to determine the extent of tissue damage, detect the source of inflammation and make the correct diagnosis. Treatment of deep caries and pulpitis is carried out using the same methods. During treatment, the doctor:
- Provides local anesthesia by injecting an anesthetic into the tissue surrounding the diseased tooth.
- Eliminates affected tissue.
- Performs mechanical and antiseptic treatment of canals.
- Performs canal fillings.
- Takes a control photograph of the tooth.
- Restores the damaged part of the tooth.
After undergoing treatment for deep caries or pulpitis, the patient may still feel discomfort and unpleasant sensations for some time, which should subside over several days. In case of periodontitis and periostitis, it is initially necessary to eliminate the source of infection. To do this, root canals are cleaned and processed. Treatment of gumboil and periodontitis takes longer. After eliminating the source of infection, the canals are filled and the crown of the tooth is restored. Sometimes surgical methods are used to treat flux. If you ignore the problem and do not seek the help of a dentist, then the chances of saving the tooth are greatly reduced. If acute toothache occurs due to the eruption of the eighth tooth, then it is very important to promptly seek the advice of a specialist. After examining the oral cavity and conducting an X-ray examination, the doctor will select the most effective treatment method in each specific case. The dentist begins performing therapeutic procedures after administering local anesthesia. Modern anesthetics are highly effective and well tolerated by the body.
Oral care
After treatment and elimination of painful sensations, to prevent such situations in the future, you should adhere to the following mandatory rules:
- Carry out regular, thorough cleaning of your teeth and gums with a brush and paste. Use additional hygiene products in the form of rinses, flosses and irrigators.
- undergo regular preventive examinations with a dentist.
- It is extremely important to eat right. To do this, you need to reduce the amount of sweets, confectionery and sweet carbonated drinks you consume. It is important to balance your diet with as many fruits, fresh vegetables, and herbs as possible.
- try not to smoke or drink alcoholic beverages. Nicotine negatively affects the entire human body. People who smoke develop pigmented plaque on their teeth, which provokes the development of gingivitis and periodontitis. Alcohol reduces immunity and contributes to the development of mucosal dystrophy.
- carefully monitor and be attentive to your health!
Prevention and treatment
Absolutely all people who have problems with the spine are recommended to have a hard sleeping surface and a properly chosen pillow. This allows you to maintain correct posture. Bed linen must be of high quality and non-synthetic. Synthetics create static electricity, which can promote involuntary muscle contractions. Muscles that are tense at night will hurt in the morning.
The diet depends on the cause of back pain. If you have gout, you will have to limit foods rich in purine, and if you have osteoporosis, foods should be rich in calcium. Another preventive measure is wearing comfortable shoes. It is recommended to walk in heels for no more than two hours. It is useful to practice swimming and yoga, and drink filtered water.
Therapeutic massage, physiotherapy, physical therapy are prescribed only by a doctor. For example, manual therapy is contraindicated for cardiovascular diseases, infectious diseases, and old age. And acupuncture is used for kidney diseases, pregnancy, and acute respiratory diseases. Acupuncture is very effective for psychosomatic pain.
How treatment will be carried out depends directly on the diagnosis, since a separate approach is used for each disease
Regarding medications, it is important to mention that for each disease the medications will be different, so you should not generalize or take the first painkiller you come across. It is necessary to find out exactly the cause of this problem and only then decide on the drug. Although, of course, it is better to do this with a specialist who, based on the patient’s tests, will accurately determine the appropriate remedy.
It is also not always worthwhile to be treated with the help of folk remedies - there is a high probability of harming yourself, because a certain remedy can be harmful for a particular organ. Moreover, a person may not know that he is allergic to some component of a folk remedy - then when using it, the patient’s situation will worsen even more.
