Why do my teeth hurt mostly at night and not during the day? This question is of interest to many people. Quite often, patients complain that painful sensations increase mainly at night. There are diseases that lead to the development of such a malaise. Toothache develops because there is a large number of nerve fibers in the mouth, which under the influence of various factors become inflamed.
Many people complain of toothache at night. It’s hard to pinpoint one cause, so here’s a complete list of dental and oral conditions that can interfere with your sleep.
Common Causes
Specialists distinguish the following diseases that lead to the development of toothache:
- Caries. The development of dental caries leads to damage to tooth enamel and dentin. The cavity accumulates and rapidly reproduces pathogens. When decay reaches the advanced stage, the harmful bacteria almost reach the pulp, which is riddled with nerve fibers. The pain syndrome is triggered by irritants.
- Pulpitis. At this stage, the pulp is damaged, it develops an inflammatory process that spreads to all nerve endings. Painful sensations may appear without any external signs of the disease.
- Periodontitis. In this disease, the inflammatory process develops in the tissues surrounding the tooth.
- Flux. This complication occurs if the pulpitis is not treated in time. The danger lies in the fact that the developed inflammatory process spreads to the jaw and periosteum.
- Lesions of the enamel and the hard layers of the teeth of a non-carious nature. They are the result of mechanical damage to the tooth, resulting in the destruction of the enamel. The main reason for the pain of such lesions is the same processes that occur in diseases.
- After a tooth filling procedure. If a filling is performed incorrectly, if the specialist does not perform the manipulation correctly or does not follow the correct procedure, the patient may experience unpleasant pain, which is mainly worse at night.
- After a tooth extraction. Pain that worsens at night can develop after a tooth extraction.
What to Do if Your Tooth Really Hurts at Night
It should be remembered that all self-treatment procedures will only help to temporarily reduce painful sensations, not to eliminate the disease.
The most common home remedy methods include:
- Painkillers. Such medications effectively help to eliminate unpleasant symptoms, which alleviates the overall condition of the person. The dosage of drugs should be taken according to the instructions. An overdose of medication can lead to serious problems.
- Application of herbal tinctures for mouthwash. For this purpose, the following herbs will be suitable: calendula, oak bark, calamus root, chamomile, plantain and sage. They have anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effects. Infusions should be used only in the absence of allergic reactions to the herbs used.
- Gargling with a saline solution. Such a solution helps to temporarily eliminate unpleasant sensations and alleviate feelings. It does not cause allergies.
If the temperature rises sharply or swelling occurs, it may be a sign that the inflammatory process has spread. In such a situation, it is necessary to seek the help of a specialist without delay.
How the Dentist Solves the Problem of Nighttime Toothache
When you visit a dentist’s office, a specialist will perform a thorough oral examination, then schedule the patient to undergo an X-ray examination. X-rays are necessary to determine the extent of tissue damage, locate the site of inflammation and make a proper diagnosis.
Deep cavities and pulpitis are treated. The treatment methods are the same. During treatment, the doctor:
- Conducts local anesthesia, by injecting an anesthetic into the tissues surrounding the diseased tooth.
- Removes diseased tissues.
- Performs mechanical and antiseptic treatment of the root canals.
- Filling the root canals.
- Makes a control X-ray of the tooth.
- Restores the damaged part of the tooth.
After treatment of deep cavities or pulpitis, the patient may experience discomfort and discomfort for some time, which must pass within a few days.
With periodontitis and periostitis, it is initially necessary to eliminate the source of infection. For this purpose, root canals are cleaned and treated. Treatment of flux and periodontitis takes more time. After the infection is eliminated, the root canals are filled and the crown of the tooth is restored. Sometimes surgical methods are used to treat flux. If the problem is ignored and you do not seek help from the dentist, the chances of saving the tooth are very reduced.
If the acute toothache is due to the eruption of the eighth tooth, it is very important to seek the advice of a specialist in a timely manner. After examination of the oral cavity and radiographic examination, the doctor will select the most effective method of treatment in each case.
The dentist begins treatment procedures after the application of local anesthesia. Modern anesthetics are highly effective and well tolerated by the patient.
Dental Care
After treatment and elimination of painful sensations, in order to prevent similar situations in the future, it is necessary to adhere to mandatory rules:
- Conduct regular, thorough brushing of the teeth and gums with a brush and paste. Use additional hygiene products in the form of rinses, flosses and irrigators.
- Have regular checkups with your dentist.
- It is extremely important to eat a healthy diet. This requires reducing the amount of candy, confectionery and carbonated soft drinks you eat. It is important to balance your diet with as much fruit, fresh vegetables, and herbs as possible.
- Do not 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 promotes the development of mucosal dystrophy.
- Carefully watch out and be attentive to your health!