Toothache is sometimes felt as a mild sensitivity, while at other times it can be severe enough to wake someone from sleep at night. Particularly throbbing, prolonged toothache that recurs despite painkillers should not be regarded merely as temporary sensitivity. Different problems such as caries, inflammation of the dental nerve, abscess, cracked tooth, or gum diseases can cause pain in a similar way.
What needs to be done for a toothache that prevents sleep is not just to suppress the pain, but to determine which tooth and which tissue the pain is originating from. Therefore, methods that can be applied at home only aim to provide temporary relief until reaching a dentist. Even if the pain subsides, a dental examination should not be neglected since the underlying problem may persist.
What Are the Symptoms of a Toothache?
How a toothache is felt can vary depending on the source of the problem and the level of progression. While some individuals experience short-term sensitivity only with cold or hot foods, others may develop a continuous and throbbing pain that starts without any stimulus.
The most common symptoms of a toothache include aching, throbbing, hot-cold sensitivity in or around a specific tooth, pain when chewing or pressing on the teeth, and redness and tenderness in the gum. It is also possible for the pain to radiate to the jaw, ear, temporal region, or face.
Especially in cases where the dental nerve is affected, the pain may start spontaneously and continue for a while after the hot or cold stimulus is removed. Pain that intensifies at night and wakes him from sleep is also one of the symptoms suggesting that the inner tissues of the tooth may be affected.
In infections such as a dental abscess, the pain may be accompanied by swelling in the gum or face, a bad taste or odor in the mouth, fever, and general fatigue. A rapidly growing swelling on the face or difficulty in swallowing and breathing requires immediate evaluation as it may be a sign of a more serious infection.
What Causes a Toothache That Prevents Sleep?
There is no single cause for a toothache that disrupts nighttime sleep. Although the character of the pain provides important clues, the exact cause can only be determined after an intraoral examination and, when necessary, a radiographic examination.
One of the most frequent causes is deep tooth decay. While decay initially affects only the enamel and dentin layers, as it progresses, it can approach the pulp tissue where the nerves and vessels of the tooth are located. At this stage, sensitivity to cold, sweet, or hot foods may increase.
The inflammation of the pulp tissue due to decay or trauma is called pulpitis. In advanced cases of pulpitis, pain can start without any stimulus, can be throbbing, and may become pronounced especially during nighttime hours. The person may sometimes find it difficult to distinguish exactly which tooth is aching.
A dental abscess is another important cause of severe toothache that prevents sleep. A bacterial infection developing around the tooth root or in the gum tissues can cause throbbing, sensitivity to pressure, and swelling. When the infection advances, swelling in the face and jaw area, fever, or tenderness in the lymph nodes may be observed.
Broken or cracked teeth can also cause sharp pain, especially during chewing. Since some cracks are too small to be seen with the naked eye, the person may see his tooth as completely intact from the outside.
Gum diseases, gum recession, and the exposure of root surfaces can also cause sensitivity and pain. Periodontal abscesses developing around the gums can lead to more severe and continuous pain.
Wisdom teeth that are partially impacted or have developed infections in the surrounding tissues can also cause pain in the rear region, swelling, difficulty in opening the mouth, and discomfort radiating to the ear.
In the case of bruxism, known as nighttime teeth clenching or grinding, the jaw muscles and jaw joint can ache in addition to the teeth. Experiencing fatigue in the jaw muscles in the mornings, sensitivity in the teeth, or headaches may suggest bruxism.
A toothache may not always stem directly from a tooth. Sinus issues, jaw joint disorders, and certain facial pains can be confused with a toothache. Therefore, especially in cases of unexplained or recurring pain, he should consult a dentist's evaluation rather than trying to self-diagnose.
How to Relieve a Toothache That Prevents Sleep?
The way to permanently relieve a toothache that prevents sleep is to treat the cause of the pain. Because pain is not a disease, it is a symptom of a problem in the tooth or surrounding tissues.
For example, if the decay has not yet reached the dental nerve, cleaning the decayed tissue and restoring the tooth with an appropriate restoration may be sufficient. If irreversible inflammation or infection has developed in the pulp tissue of the tooth, root canal treatment may be necessary. If the tooth is unsalvageable, extraction may be considered.
In pains originating from the gums and surrounding tissues, different procedures such as professional dental scaling, periodontal treatments, or draining the abscess when necessary can be applied. In cracked or broken teeth, the treatment option varies according to the location and depth of the crack.
Using antibiotics indiscriminately, especially with the thought of "making the pain stop as soon as possible," is not correct. Not every toothache requires antibiotics. The need for antibiotics should be determined by the dentist by evaluating the spread of the infection and the person's general health status.
Until reaching the dentist, not chewing hard foods with the aching side, staying away from very hot and very cold foods, keeping the area clean, and using appropriate painkillers according to the recommended usage pattern if necessary can provide temporary relief. However, the reduction of pain for a few hours does not mean that the problem has disappeared.
Natural Remedies at Home for a Toothache That Prevents Sleep
Methods that can be applied at home do not eliminate the cause of the toothache. The goal is to somewhat reduce the pain or discomfort in the tissues until reaching a dentist. If there are signs of severe pain, swelling, or infection, one should not waste time with home remedies.
Gargling with Salt Water
Rinsing the mouth with warm salt water can help remove food debris inside the mouth and can provide temporary relief, especially in the gum tissues.
Water prepared by adding approximately half a teaspoon of salt to a glass of warm water can be swished in the mouth for a short time and spit out. Care should be taken that the water is not very hot. Salt water must not be swallowed and should not be used, especially in young children who cannot perform gargling safely.
It must be remembered that the salt water application does not treat tooth decay, inflamed dental nerves, or a dental abscess.
Cold Compress
If the pain is accompanied by swelling in the face or jaw area, a cold compress applied from the outside can provide temporary relief.
The cold application should not be applied directly to the skin; ice or a cold pack should be wrapped in a thin towel and applied to the outside of the cheek at short intervals. Applying a hot compress may not be appropriate, especially in cases where there is swelling in the facial area.
If the swelling continues to grow, fever develops, or the person's general condition deteriorates, he should not rely solely on a cold compress and must consult a dentist.
Clove Oil
Eugenol, one of the main components of clove oil, is a substance that has been used in dentistry since the past. Therefore, clove oil is one of the most frequently brought up herbal products for toothaches.
However, applying concentrated clove oil directly to the gum should not be considered a safe home application. Concentrated products can cause burning, irritation, and irritation in the sensitive tissues inside the mouth. Swallowing it can also be harmful.
For this reason, clove oil should not be used indiscriminately, especially in children, pregnant women, or individuals with sores in the oral mucosa. Nor does it replace the primary treatment of a toothache.
Peppermint Tea Bag
Applying a cooled peppermint tea bag to the painful area is one of the methods used among the public. The cooling sensation can provide short-term relief for some individuals.
However, there is no strong clinical evidence showing that a peppermint tea bag treats a toothache. Therefore, this method should not be seen as a treatment option in conditions such as decay, pulpitis, or abscess.
Placing very hot tea bags directly onto the aching tooth or gum should be avoided.
Painkillers
Although painkillers are not a "natural method," they are among the options that can be used for temporary pain control in situations where a dentist cannot be reached immediately.
Conditions such as the person's age, other medications he uses, pregnancy status, gastrointestinal, kidney, liver, or heart diseases can affect which painkiller can be used. Therefore, the dosage in the medication leaflet must not be exceeded; if there is any doubt as to whether it is suitable for the individual, a physician or pharmacist should be consulted.
Aspirin or another painkiller tablet should not be placed directly onto the aching tooth or gum. Such applications can lead to irritation and chemical burns in the oral tissue.
The reduction of pain after a painkiller also does not mean that the problem in the tooth has healed. If the pain starts again when the effect of the medication wears off, it is important not to delay dental treatment.
When to See a Doctor for a Toothache?
If a toothache is severe enough to particularly disrupt sleep, the dentist's evaluation should not be delayed. The pain becoming continuous, being uncontrollable despite painkillers, becoming pronounced when chewing, or failing to improve within a few days requires an examination.
If the toothache is accompanied by symptoms such as swelling in the face or gums, fever, bad taste or odor, or difficulty opening the mouth, the possibility of infection must be taken into account.
Having a rapidly progressing swelling in the face, mouth, or neck; the swelling spreading to the eye area or neck; and the emergence of difficulty in breathing, speaking, or swallowing are symptoms that require emergency medical evaluation.
The spontaneous draining of an abscess and the sudden decrease of pain do not indicate that the problem has completely resolved either. Since the focus of infection may persist, a dental examination is required in this case as well.