The harmful bacteria in your mouth often thrive and multiply due to the accumulation of debris of starch and sugar coming from things you eat. Common foods and drinks like honey, soft drinks, dried apricots, chocolate, and cakes provide a lot of sugar, which the bad bacteria consume to produce acid. The acid in your mouth attacks the enamel by leaching minerals, which weakens and destroys the tooth’s outer surface. Thus sooner, you will have tooth decay and cavities. Still, you may have toothache New York due to other issues, including accumulation of food particles between your teeth, infection of the gums or teeth, or tooth trauma.
Apart from a toothache, you may also have facial and jaw swelling, inflammation of your mouth and around your teeth, bleeding of gums, and tooth sensitivity.
There is a high chance that your toothache may become worse during the night when you are sleeping. One of the possible explanations for this phenomenon is that as you lie down during sleep, there is more rush of blood towards your head and mouth. The increased blood supply creates more pressure and pain in the sensitive and infected areas of your mouth.
Also, your toothache may hurt more at night because your brain has fewer distractions, and thus, it is more alert to sensations.
Consequently, below are tips that can help you get relief from toothache at night.
- Oral pain medications
Anti-inflammatory oral medications like ibuprofen, Advil, Motrin, or naproxen are excellent for providing relief against dental pain because they can reduce swelling.
Follow the dosages recommended on the packaging of over-the-counter oral medicines to reduce inflammation, particularly if it causes mild to moderate tooth pain.
- Cold compress
Eliminate or reduce toothache swelling by holding a cold compress against the outside of your cheek for about 25 minutes. Repeat the ice therapy once every few hours.
Applying cold therapy can help numb the area affected by a toothache due to the constriction of blood vessels. As a result, swelling and inflammation reduction relieve tooth pain.
- Peppermint tea bags
Put a used peppermint tea bag in the freezer for a few minutes to chill, and then apply it to your tooth affected by pain. Also, as you drink tea, swish it inside your mouth.
Clinical studies show that peppermint has antibacterial properties and thus can help destroy the bacteria in your mouth that may be causing a toothache.
- Rinse your mouth
Rinsing your mouth with salt water or hydrogen peroxide can also help in reducing inflammation and toothache. That is because the solutions can help kill bad bacteria in your mouth.
Swish and swirl salt water or hydrogen peroxide around your mouth, spit it out and then repeat the process a few times.
- Elevate your head
Try resting your head on a comfortable pillow as you sleep when you have a toothache. The elevation of your head in a higher position than the rest of your body encourages the draining of fluids and prevents blood pooling since there is less pressure in blood flowing to your mouth and head.
Contact Compassionate Endodontists in New York/NYC today to schedule an appointment with a toothache specialist.
