When you have a really serious toothache, it might feel like all you can do to just make it through the day. Even if you’ve already called your dentist and made an emergency appointment, you may have to deal with the pain for a while before you can see them.

After the stress of managing a toothache, you lie down to go to bed, only to find that your tooth feels worse than it did before! You may not be imagining it; here are a few reasons that a toothache could get worse just before bed.

Get the Blood Pumping

When you’re standing, your body has to fight against gravity to pump blood to your head. When you lie down in your bed at night, suddenly your heart doesn’t have to work nearly as hard, and a bunch of blood can suddenly rush to your head.

That blood flow can cause some mild swelling along the gums, which can make a toothache feel a little bit worse.

Cut Out Distractions

Pain can often be about mind over matter; the less you’re thinking about your toothache, the less it’s likely to bother you. When you’re running around during the day and getting things done, you may forget about a toothache, which could provide some relief.

However, when you lay down to go to bed, there are much fewer things to distract you. As a result, you could potentially feel the toothache much more acutely than you did in the morning.

Grind Before You Rise

You may not realize it, but if you find that your toothache hurts considerably more when you wake up, you may be grinding your teeth in your sleep. So-called sleep bruxism is remarkably common and, as you’d expect, people often aren’t even aware that they have it.

You may mention that your teeth hurt in the morning at your emergency appointment; after they treat your toothache, your dentist may be able to fit you for a professionally-crafted nightguard.

About Our Practice

At Advanced Dental Arts NW, we know the difference that a beautiful, healthy smile can bring to your life. That’s why we aim to offer incredible comfort while giving you the highest level of oral healthcare possible, so that you’ll be happy to see us often! Whether you need a simple cleaning or an emergency appointment, we want to help you get your oral health into the best shape we can.

If you have any questions about how to manage a toothache, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (503) 966-2528.