How to Manage Nighttime Toothaches

The only thing quite as bad as bearing the pain of a toothache throughout your day is having your sleep interrupted by the sharp and relentless tooth pain at night. Trying to wait out a toothache typically results in more pain. Upon a visit to a dentist in Vaughan, it often reveals a more severe problem that needs to be addressed, such as a gum infection or tooth decay. If you can’t sleep through your tooth pain, you should visit a root canal dentist like the team at Mackenzie Dental Centre. Early intervention can help you ease the nighttime tooth pain and prevent the need for a root canal treatment, to begin with. 

If you’re suffering from a harsh toothache during the night, here are some tips to help you manage the pain. 

Visit a Root Canal Dentist in Vaughan

Temporary fixes for tooth pain may help for a couple of hours, but they don’t provide a long-term solution. The more prolonged tooth pain plagues you during the night, the more your sleep will be disrupted, affecting your mental cognition and day-to-day life. By visiting a dentist in Vaughan, you trust you can address the cause of your tooth pain promptly and restore your restful nights of sleep. 

Over-the-Counter Pain Relief 

Tooth pain is typically caused by inflammation of the pulp or nerve within the tooth, which is why it hurts so much. The pain can be managed for a short period of time by addressing inflammation with anti-inflammatory painkillers like ibuprofen (Advil) or Naproxen (Motrin or Aleve) which reduce inflammation temporarily. Some root canal dentists recommend combining ibuprofen and acetaminophen (Tylenol) for more potent pain relief but do not mix medications without consulting your dental team at Mackenzie Dental Centre first. 

Topical gels and creams are designed for oral use and can quickly address pain for a few hours overnight. Because they are applied directly onto a sore tooth, patients suffering from chronic tooth pain find they relieve the specific pain faster than an ingested pill.

Apply a Cold Compress

Ice or a cold compress can help reduce swelling and inflammation in a focused area. Since swelling and inflammation are significant contributing factors to tooth pain, using a cold compress is an effective non-medicinal option to minimize discomfort. While icing the tooth can be effective, this method of pain reduction is dependent on staying awake for a bit leading to long, tiresome nights. If you’re not sleeping because of incessant toothaches at night, don’t wait another night before scheduling an appointment at Mackenzie Dental Centre, a reliable dental clinic in Vaughan. 

Rinse Your Mouth 

Some mouthwashes are equipped with numbing agents that can reduce tooth pain. This is especially helpful if you have multiple teeth that require a look from a root canal dentist. You can also try rinsing your mouth with salt water, a longstanding home remedy for dental pain, reducing inflammation and the risk of infection. 

Choosing Mackenzie Dental Centre

Tooth pain is a symptom of a more significant problem. When you’re affected night after night, act fast and visit Mackenzie Dental Centre, a leading dental clinic near you in Woodbridge, Vaughan. 

Contact us today.