Is a terrible toothache keeping you up at night? Sleep disturbances are more than just a bummer; they can increase anxiety and depression, lower your immune system’s efficiency, and cause serious brain fog. Plus, a toothache can be a sign that you have a dental emergency on your hands!
You probably don’t have to be told twice to find relief for your toothache, but maybe you’re not sure what will work. Here are some tips that can help you get back to sleep so you can contact your dentist in the morning.
Home Remedies
Temporary relief for your persistent toothache could be just around the corner of your own home. From over-the-counter pain medicine to peppermint tea, here’s a list of remedies straight from the pantry:
- Ibuprofen. While any OTC pain reliever will likely take the edge off, Ibuprofen tends to be better at reducing inflammation, which contributes to irritation.
- Peppermint tea. You can press a warm bag of this tea directly to your aching tooth and/or drink it. Best to take it without sugar, though, as sugar can aggravate inflammation.
- Clove. This herb has been used in traditional medicine as an effective pain reducer. You can apply clove oil to your tooth with a cotton ball or mix the spice with water to drink and rinse.
- Garlic. Spread crushed garlic into a paste to be pressed against your toothache.
- Ice. A cold compress can numb your mouth and reduce swelling.
When you’re ready to go back to bed, try propping your pillow or pillows up to elevate your head. Lying flat puts gravity and your blood flow against you and can aggravate your toothache by applying pressure to the area.
Permanent Solutions
It’s important to remember that home remedies don’t cure toothaches. Even if you wake up to find that yours has vanished, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re out of the woods. Toothaches can be caused by cavities, infections, or gum disease, none of which go away on their own. Alternatively, the underlying problem could be that you grind or clench your teeth while you sleep; this is a less severe issue but still requires professional treatment.
For a permanent solution to whatever triggered an ache in your tooth, you’ll have to see your dentist, and the sooner the better. If the problem does happen to be a serious oral condition, you’ll want to take care of it promptly. If not – well, your dentist will still be able to provide a more long-lasting solution than a tea bag!
About the Practice
Dr. Tyler May and Dr. Mark Bowles are highly experienced dentists who value their patients’ comfort. Dr. May in particular understands that dental anxiety can make even scheduling appointments difficult, and offers sedation dentistry for nervous patients. He also has advanced training in emergency dental treatments such as root canals and oral surgery. If a toothache is disturbing your comfort, Dr. May and Dr. Bowles will do their best to see and treat you as soon as possible! To contact their office, call 435-654-2020.