Toothaches at night can be very annoying. Since you may not be able to see a dentist right away, it’s important to know some tips to relieve pain immediately. These tips include natural and fast toothache treatments at home, helping you relieve your toothache and get some rest until you can access Emergency Dental Services.
How to Get Rid of Toothache at Night
Many people believe a toothache is much more bothersome when they’re trying to sleep or rest. Since you are not able to do complicated actions at night, you should learn easy and fast ways to relieve toothache pain at night. This table provides a quick guide on toothache at night solutions. And in the following sections, we’ll explain each one in detail.
| Remedy | Description |
| Cold Compress | Apply an ice pack wrapped in a towel for 15–20 minutes. |
| Over-the-Counter Meds | Take Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen, Aspirin, or Naproxen. |
| Medicated Ointments | Apply OTC numbing gels like Orajel for temporary relief. |
| Elevate Your Head | Sleep with your head elevated to reduce pain and inflammation. |
| Clove Oil | Apply clove paste or a tea bag to the painful tooth. |
| Peppermint Tea Bags | Place a cold or warm tea bag on your gums. |
| Salt Water Rinse | Rinse with salt water to reduce inflammation and prevent infection. |
| Hydrogen Peroxide Rinse | Use diluted food-grade hydrogen peroxide as a mouthwash for gum pain relief. |
| Garlic | Apply crushed garlic with salt to the affected tooth for its antibacterial effect. |
| Turmeric | Mix turmeric powder with water to make a paste and apply it to the sore tooth. |
| Vanilla Extract | Dip a cotton ball in vanilla extract and place it on the aching tooth. |
| Guava Leaves | Chew a clean guava leaf or boil a few leaves in water and use it as a rinse. |
| Fresh Ginger | Crush a small piece and place it on the sore tooth, or drink ginger tea. |
| Baking Soda | Chew a clean guava leaf or boil a few leaves in water and use them as a rinse. |
1- Apply a Cold Compress
To relieve a toothache and help you sleep better, you can wrap an ice pack in a towel and place it on the side of your face where you feel pain. Not only does this method constrict the blood vessels, but it also helps reduce pain. You can apply a cold compress to the area for 15 to 20 minutes every hour to prevent the toothache from bothering you during the night.
2- Take Over-the-Counter Pain Medication
Using over-the-counter medications can relieve nighttime pain by reducing inflammation and blocking pain signals in your body. Common pain relievers are:
- Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
- Aspirin
- Naproxen (Aleve)
3- Medicated Ointments
Additionally, there are specific toothache gels or lotions on the market. These typically contain substances like benzocaine that can numb and lessen the discomfort in your teeth and gums. To receive some relief, simply apply the gel or lotion to the affected area.
Note: Products containing benzocaine are not suitable for young children.
4- Elevate Your Head While Sleeping
It may be interesting for you to know that your sleeping position can affect your toothache! It might hurt and potentially cause swelling when blood accumulates and flows more in your brain. So, this time when you have a toothache at night, place an extra pillow or two under your head. Elevating your head will help relieve your toothache, so you can sleep more comfortably at night.
10 Home Remedies That May Help
If you’re looking for more natural options for your toothache at night, home remedies are a good option for you. These home remedies are easy to prepare and can be done even at night. Let’s see what they are:
1- Use Clove Oil
One of the other solutions for nighttime toothache is clove oil, which is also known as eugenol. It is an herbal oil that is used by many people to relieve toothache. Grind the cloves to create a fine powder and soak them in water to form a paste. Then, apply the paste directly to the affected tooth. If you don’t want to apply the paste directly to your tooth, you can place it in an empty tea bag and put it near the tooth.
Note: Children should not use this medicine since they could swallow too much clove. Whole cloves can also be choking hazards as they have a prickly nature.
2- Use Peppermint Tea Bags
Another way to stop tooth pain at night is to place a peppermint tea bag on your gums. It can be cold or warm. If you use a warm tea bag, make sure it is not too hot to avoid burning your gums. For the cold option, place the used tea bag in the freezer for a few minutes and then place it on the tooth.
If your toothache is due to a recent crown, you should know what foods to avoid after dental crowns to reduce sensitivity and discomfort.
3- Rinse with Salt Water
An easy and common home remedy for a toothache is a warm saltwater rinse! Similar to a natural cleanser, warm salt water helps reduce swelling and fight bacteria. It may even help prevent infection of sore teeth. Swishing salt water also helps in removing particles of food that have been stuck in your teeth and gums.
4- Rinse with Hydrogen Peroxide
If your toothache is caused by a condition such as gum disease or is accompanied by symptoms like painful, bleeding gums or loose teeth, hydrogen peroxide may help relieve he pain. Use food-grade hydrogen peroxide as a mouthwash by mixing it with an equal amount of water. One study on Wiley Online Library has shown the antigingivitis effects of rinsing with hydrogen peroxide and reducing oral bacteria.
Note: This solution is not suitable for children either, as they may accidentally swallow it.
5- Garlic, An Ancient Remedy for Toothache
Garlic is known for its antibacterial properties. This natural remedy can fight harmful bacteria in the mouth and relieve tooth pain. To quickly treat a toothache at night with garlic, crush a small clove of it, mix it with a little salt, and apply the mixture directly to the affected tooth.
6. Turmeric Paste
Turmeric has natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, which can help calm tooth pain and swelling. You can make a paste by mixing turmeric powder with a little water and applying it gently to the sore tooth, or drink warm turmeric tea to ease discomfort.
7. Vanilla Extract
Vanilla extract contains alcohol that can numb pain, and its antioxidants may support healing. Dip a clean cotton ball in a small amount of pure vanilla extract and place it on the aching tooth for quick relief.
8. Guava Leaves
Guava leaves are a traditional remedy for toothaches thanks to their anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects. You can chew a clean guava leaf slowly to release its juice, or boil a few leaves in water, let it cool, and use it as a soothing mouth rinse.
9. Fresh Ginger
Ginger is well-known for reducing pain and swelling. Simply crush a small piece of fresh ginger and place it against the affected tooth, or brew ginger tea and swish it around your mouth before swallowing.
10. Baking Soda
Baking soda helps fight bacteria and reduce swelling in the mouth. Mix a little baking soda with water to make a paste and apply it to the sore spot, or dissolve half a teaspoon in warm water and use it as a gentle mouth rinse.
What Makes Toothaches Worse at Night
You may have noticed that toothaches increase at night. Actually, that’s why you’re looking for toothache at night. When you lie down, blood flows more readily to the skull. The pressure and pain from a toothache can worsen due to this increased blood flow. This is one explanation for nighttime pain. Another reason may be the lack of distractions at night. When there is nothing to distract you, you may focus more on any discomfort, such as a toothache.
When to Contact an Emergency Dentist
As we mentioned before, all these home remedies will only provide temporary relief. For a permanent solution, you should contact a dentist as soon as possible. This is necessary to prevent serious problems, including tooth abscesses, gum disease, or even tooth loss. If you experience any of the following symptoms, it is best to see an emergency dentist as soon as you can:
- Very bad tooth pain
- Tooth pain that doesn’t go away after two days
- Fever, headache, or pain when you open your mouth
- Trouble breathing or swallowing
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Conclusion
In this blog post, we have examined the toothache at night and ways to relieve the pain. All the methods introduced are only soothing and can temporarily stop the toothache for a few hours. For this reason, the best way to treat a toothache is to visit an experienced dentist to address the underlying dental issue.
If you’re dealing with a toothache, contact our team at Smile Avenue immediately! Our dentists are always ready to give you a hand, providing instant relief and restoring your dental health.
FAQs
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What is the 3-3-3 rule for a toothache?
The 3-3-3 rule recommends taking 3 ibuprofen tablets every 3 hours for 3 days to manage toothache pain.
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What to do if the tooth pain is unbearable?
For unbearable tooth pain, take over-the-counter pain relievers, apply a cold compress, and visit a dentist as soon as possible for treatment.
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How to stop tooth pain fast?
To stop tooth pain fast, try rinsing your mouth with salt water or hydrogen peroxide. You can also apply over-the-counter (OTC) topical medications or clove oil to numb the area and use an ice pack for additional relief.
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Why do toothaches get worse at night?
Toothaches often get worse at night. One reason for this is that lying down increases blood flow to the head. The extra blood flow can increase the intensity of the toothache you feel.
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How to sleep with a toothache while pregnant?
If you’re pregnant and struggling with a toothache at night, try propping your head up with extra pillows to ease pressure, rinsing with warm salt water to soothe irritation, and using a cold compress on your cheek to numb the pain. Always consult your doctor before taking any pain medication to make sure it’s safe during pregnancy.
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Which finger to press for toothache?
Some people use acupressure to get temporary relief from tooth pain. Pressing the area between your thumb and index finger (called the LI4 or Hegu point) may help reduce discomfort. To try it, apply firm but gentle pressure for a few minutes. Keep in mind that this is only a short-term method and won’t replace professional dental treatment.
Dealing with tooth pain can be tough; let’s support each other! Share your tips, stories, or questions about toothache relief in the comments. We’re here to listen and help.
