Why Does My Toothache Hurt More Before Bed?

After a long day of hard work, there’s nothing better than rolling into bed and falling right to sleep. Unfortunately, if you have a toothache, it can be hard to do that. In fact, you may have noticed that your toothache feels worse right before bed.

You might not be imagining it; there are a few reasons why that could be the case. If you’re curious, here are a few things that could explain why your toothache worsens just as you’re falling asleep.

Blood Flow

When you’re sitting or standing all day, you have to work against gravity to maintain the blood flow to your head. When you lay down, that suddenly becomes significantly easier. The result is that a lot of blood suddenly rushes to your head and, by extension, your mouth.

That increase in blood flow can contribute to more swelling, which in turn can exacerbate the pain you’re feeling from your toothache.

Teeth Grinding

Bruxism, or teeth grinding, is incredibly common, especially at night. There are quite a few people wtho only grind their teeth in their sleep, and as a result, aren’t even necessarily aware that they have this problem. Unless you’re looking for it, you may not even be aware that your jaw starts moving as you’re drifting off to sleep.

A toothache could be a rude awakening for people like this. Nighttime bruxism puts a surprising amount of pressure on the teeth, which is naturally going to make a toothache much worse than it would have been otherwise.

When you see your dentist about your toothache, you might also ask your dentist if you should be fitted for a nightguard. That can protect your teeth while you sleep, preventing a host of future oral health problems as well.

Fewer Distractions

This may sound a little strange, but have you ever had to use the restroom while on a car trip? How does that feeling compare to having to go when you’re exercising, or when you’re in the middle of work? Most of the time, the discomfort is much more noticeable when you’re sitting around than when you’re staying active. That could also be the reason why your toothache hurts more as you’re going to bed—there are fewer things to distract you.

If you’re suffering from a toothache, your dentist will make sure you don’t have to deal with it for long. Give them a call, and they’ll get you in for an emergency appointment to treat your toothache as soon as possible.

About Our Practice

At Waterbury Smiles, we’ve been committed to maintaining our patient’s oral health for nearly 40 years! We work hard to stay on top of the latest in dental technology while treating our patients with the care and respect they deserve. The result is a level of dental care that’s hard to find anywhere else.

If you have any questions about a toothache, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (203) 575-9097.