In the hushed stillness of the night, the relentless throbbing of a toothache can transform what is meant to be peaceful hours of dreaming into things from tormenting nightmares. Anyone who has ever experienced the excruciating discomfort of a toothache knows it has the uncanny ability to intensify when the world around you is blissfully sleeping, and as minutes tick by, finding relief transitions from a want to a need and grows in urgency.
When you experience the sharp, throbbing pain of a toothache, the best route to relief is always going to be to schedule an appointment with a dental professional immediately. Unfortunately, this may not be a possibility in the middle of the night.
Read on to discover some tips and home remedies for a toothache during hours when reaching a dental professional isn’t a possibility. Silencing the midnight sting can be a difficult task, but with the right tools in your arsenal, you can transition the pain from debilitating to tolerable.
What To Do If Your Tooth Hurts Really Bad At Night
- Oral pain medication: Over-the-counter pain medication is one effective tooth remedy to alleviate pain. Medications such as Ibuprofen and Tylenol are the most commonly used for toothache pain. These over-the-counter medications may not completely remove the pain you are feeling but may offer some relief by taking the edge off and lowering the intensity of the pain.
- Cold compress: Another commonly used home remedy for toothache pain is applying a cold compress to the area where you are experiencing the most pain. A common symptom of a toothache is inflammation or swelling at the tooth site. Applying ice or a bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel can aid in constricting the blood vessels and reduce pain. This can also be done every few hours for 15-20 minutes in the evening to prevent pain before going to sleep.
- Peppermint tea: Peppermint tea has been noted to contain antibacterial and antioxidant compounds as well as menthol, which can produce a numbing effect. The subsequent numbing effect may offer some much-needed relief in the wee hours of the night.
- Medicated ointments: Most local grocery stores and convenience stores offer a wide selection of medicated ointments specifically designed to relieve pain caused by a toothache. Their most noticeable effect is a moderate numbing sensation at the application site.
- Clove oil: A well-known home remedy for oral pain is clove oil — specifically for pain related to inflammation of the dental pulp or tissue in the tooth’s center. Clove oil also acts as a numbing agent to relieve pain. Don’t have clove oil, but do have cloves? Gently chewing and sucking on a clove, then placing it near the target area may offer a modicum of relief as well.
- Garlic: A common ingredient found in most households is garlic. This ingredient is not only great for making food delicious, but it may also take some of the pain away. Garlic is highly recognized for its strong antibacterial effects and may aid in combating cariogenic bacteria that can cause tooth decay. Like with clove, chewing a clove of garlic and allowing it to rest near the target site may offer some relief. Keep in mind, however, that garlic has a highly potent flavor and may be too strong for some to tolerate. It is a great option to alleviate your growing discomfort as long as you can handle its intensity and don’t mind the garlic breath you’ll acquire.
- Saltwater rinse: A recommended home remedy that is safe and effective in aiding tooth pain relief is a saltwater rinse. Pouring a teaspoon of salt into a cup of warm water and then swirling it around the area causing you distress before spitting it back out can relieve inflammation and kill infection-causing bacteria.
What Stops Tooth Pain Immediately?
The relentless pulsating ache of a toothache can bring even the most resilient individuals to their knees, pleading for an escape from the immediate throbbing discomfort. When tooth pain strikes, seconds turn to minutes, and finding immediate relief becomes paramount. While we wish we could offer you a list of methods to stop tooth pain immediately, there is only one, especially when the pain becomes moderate to severe. The only immediate long-term relief for tooth pain is seeing a professional dental provider to address the root of the problem.
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How Can I Numb My Tooth Nerve At Home?
The most common way to numb a tooth nerve at home is with an over-the-counter anesthetic. These medications are specifically designed to have a numbing effect. Coat a cotton swab with the medication and gently apply it to the affected nerve in the tooth. Some other means to numb a tooth nerve are:
- Clove oil
- Vanilla extract (contains alcohol)
- Peppermint tea bag
When toothache pain threatens to disrupt your peaceful slumber in the quiet hours of the night, having an arsenal of weapons to combat the discomfort and offer relief is invaluable. A combination of effective remedies can provide solace in the deep dark abyss that is a toothache.
A toothache doesn’t have to become an endurance test; when approached correctly and with a little bit of knowledge, you can, at the very least, reduce the pain to be tolerable. Remember, while these remedies can offer some relief, they are a temporary fix. The best solution is to visit a reputable dental professional and address the problem at its core.
Visit our Nevada locations and learn how we can help you when you experience the distress of a nighttime toothache:
References:
Brennan, R. (2023). Toothache Home Remedies.
Groth, L. (2023). 10 Effective Home Remedies for Toothache Pain.
Medical News Today. (2023). 9 ways to get rid of a toothache at night.