While an aching tooth is bad at any time of day, it can be especially vexing at bedtime. A pearly white in pain will often keep you awake and make you struggle to get a good night’s rest. That said, sleeping through a nighttime toothache is quite possible; you just need the right tips and tricks. Your local emergency dentist will even share a few! So, here are four ways to manage a toothache at night before you get treatment.
Keep Your Head Elevated
Firstly, try to keep your head elevated as you get in bed for the night. This approach should ease at least some of your tooth’s pain.
The truth is that lying horizontally puts pressure on your pained pearly white. It allows blood to pool in your head and mouth, further irritating the affected area. However, elevation prevents this pressure by placing your head in a more vertical position; the result is a less intense toothache that’s less likely to keep you awake.
Take Over-the-Counter Medicine
You can also manage a nighttime toothache with over-the-counter medicine. Often enough, certain brands will quickly relieve the worst oral pain.
Today, you can find several such medications at your local pharmacy or supermarket. Some good examples include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), acetaminophen (Tylenol), and aspirin. Similarly, many stores offer numbing pastes or gels with benzocaine that numb tooth pain. (Just don’t use benzocaine products to treat infants under age 2.)
Avoid Cold & Hard Foods Before Bed
A midnight snack could distract you from your toothache, but you must be choosy with your selection. You should avoid cold and hard foods when you have nighttime tooth pain.
You see, cold and hard foods easily irritate sensitive teeth. A low temperature often aggravates areas with tooth decay, and hard items could put pressure on your cavities. Eating them before bed is a recipe for a sleepless night with an even worse toothache. Given that fact, try to avoid such foods until your pain goes away.
Gently Rinse Your Mouth
It may sound odd, but a gentle oral rinse could help manage your toothache before bed. The practice happens to have great pain-relieving properties.
There are several reasons an oral rinse could ease your pain. For starters, rinsing with a hot salt water solution would get rid of mouth debris and clean wounds. Using a mouthwash that contains alcohol could also disinfect and numb any aching teeth.
The points above make sleeping through a nighttime toothache much easier. So, use them and see your dentist for treatment in the morning!
About the Practice
Collinsville Dental Associates is proud to provide quality dentistry in Collinsville, VA. Led by our five amazing dentists, our practice always ensures each patient gets the dreamy smile they deserve. We do so by offering preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatments, as well as dental emergency care. This range of procedures ensures your teeth and gums are well cared for! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (276)-647-1494.