Toothache at Night: What You Can Do Until You See a Dentist

Toothache has an unfortunate habit of getting worse at night. When you lie down, more blood flows to your head, and with nothing to distract you, the pain feels louder. If it is the middle of the night and the clinic is closed, these are some safe steps to take.

Things that can help for now

• Rinse gently with lukewarm water, or lukewarm salt water, to clear any food from around the tooth.
• Use floss gently to remove food stuck between teeth, which can cause pain by itself.
• Raise your head with an extra pillow.
• Use a cold compress on the cheek if there is swelling, for short periods.
• Take an over-the-counter painkiller only as the label directs, and only if it is safe for you. If you have other illnesses, are pregnant or take other medicines, ask a pharmacist or doctor.

Things to avoid

• Do not put a painkiller tablet against the gum or tooth. It can burn the gum.
• Avoid very hot, cold or sugary food and drinks on that side.
• Do not apply a heat pack to a swollen cheek.
• Do not try to open an abscess or remove a tooth yourself.
• Do not rely on home remedies as a substitute for treatment. Clove oil may numb for a short time but can irritate the gum and does not treat the cause.

When it cannot wait

Go to an emergency department or call a doctor if you have:

• Swelling of the face or neck that is spreading
• Difficulty swallowing or breathing
• A fever with the toothache
• Pain after an injury to the face or jaw

Why a toothache is a warning

Pain usually means something is wrong inside the tooth. When the pain stops by itself, that does not always mean the problem has gone. Sometimes the nerve has died, and an infection continues silently. Always get it checked.

What the dentist will do

The dentist will examine the tooth and take an X-ray to find the cause. Depending on what is found, treatment may be a filling, a root canal or an extraction. Tell the dentist when the pain started, what makes it worse and what you have taken for it.

Prevention

Regular check-ups catch most problems before they hurt, and brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, cleaning between teeth and cutting down on sugary snacks all lower the risk.

Book a visit

If you have tooth pain, message T-Dent Dental Clinic on WhatsApp or request an appointment. We see patients in North Nazimabad and at the Water Pump branch. Read about root canal treatment if you want to understand a common cause.

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This article is general information and not a substitute for an examination.

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