Does Your Mouth Hurt When You Wake Up? Sometimes when you wake up, your teeth may feel sore or achy and you might ask yourself Why do my teeth hurt when i wake up.
This can be annoying! There are a few reasons why teeth could hurt in the morning. One cause is teeth grinding. Many people grind or press their teeth together while sleeping.
Another cause is cavities. Tiny holes in teeth can hurt more when wet in the morning.
Problems with gums may also make teeth sore. Sick gums called gingivitis get red and swollen. This can press on nerves.
Seeing the dentist can help find the cause. They check teeth for problems. Then they can fix what’s wrong to stop morning pain. Things like mouthguards for grinding can work too.
Toothache woke me up
Waking up from sound sleep at 2am is never fun, but being roused by an intense toothache makes for an even worse night.
That’s exactly what happened to me one moment I was drifting in dreams, the next a sharp throbbing pain pierced through my top left side.
Rolling over provided no relief from the stabbing sensation. Gently prodding with my tongue detected no obvious issues like loose fillings. After an anxious hour of tossing and turning to try soothing the sore spot, warm salt water finally took the edge off enough to doze fitfully.
By morning the pain dulled to an ache but redness appeared near the gumline. The sudden tooth trouble was concerning enough to warrant an urgent dental visit.
At my appointment, the dentist carefully examined the tooth and surrounding area.
X-rays revealed a small cavity I wasn’t previously aware of, buried deep where it had started inflaming the nerve. A round of antibiotics and filling later that day put an end to the throbbing, much to my relief!
Why do my teeth hurt when i wake up
Tooth grinding or clenching is often an unconscious habit that causes wear over time. Lying down can exacerbate the grinding, stressing teeth and wearing away enamel.
This leads to increased sensitivity. Using a custom night guard fitted by your dentist can help reduce discomfort by protecting teeth from the effects of grinding.
Other potential culprits are untreated cavities, which become more irritated overnight without saliva’s protection. Gum disease also tends to flare up at night, causing swollen gingiva to press on nerves.
Cracked or chipped teeth allow bacteria deeper access, irritating the nerve. Conditions like fractures or infections developing from existing dental issues are prone to nighttime flare ups, putting pressure on nerves.
Even acid reflux, more common when supine, can splash back and disturb oral tissues. Proper brushing and flossing, getting existing problems addressed, and consulting your dentist are key steps to determine the cause and remedy nocturnal toothaches.
Why my bottom teeth hurt in the morning
Have you noticed that your bottom teeth often ache when you first rise in the morning? You’re not alone – waking up to bottom tooth discomfort is a common complaint and every single person want to know Why do my teeth hurt when i wake up.
While usually minor, it’s a good idea to determine the underlying cause to prevent worsening issues.
Our bottom teeth can experience sensitivity for some of the same reasons as tops. Things like grinding, cavities, gum disease and cracks can all potentially trigger morning pain below.
However, there are a few reasons specific to bottoms that may be at play too.
For one, our lower teeth take extra abuse throughout the day from chewing and grinding forces. Without protective saliva at night, any microscopic damage has time to manifest as inflammation.
6 Reasons for Tooth Pain in the Morning
Teeth Grinding
Many people grind or clench their teeth while sleeping without knowing it. This can lead to cracked or worn teeth over time. Wearing a special mouth guard from the dentist helps prevent this.
Cavities
At night, less saliva is made which helps protect teeth. Without it, any holes from cavities become more irritated and sore, especially in the morning.
Gum Problems
Conditions like gingivitis and periodontitis make gums swollen and red. When sleeping, this puffy gum tissue can press on nerves under the gums and cause pain waking up.
Chipped or Cracked Teeth
Small cracks let bacteria from food get inside the tooth below the surface. There, germs bother the inner tooth all night until seeing the dentist.
Tooth Infections
Deep cavities or cracks can become infected, often mostly at night. The infection makes nearby tissues swell on nerves.
Teething (in babies)
New teeth pushing through swollen gums puts pressure on tissues. For little ones, this disturbs sleep and causes sore gums upon waking.
Seeing the dental professional helps identify the root cause to treat it and prevent future pain every morning.
Why do my teeth hurt when I get tired?
Unconscious grinding: We often clench or grind our teeth without realizing it, especially when tired or stressed. This can fatigue the jaw muscles and lead to tooth pain.
Increased sensitivity: When tired, our bodies produce less saliva which helps protect teeth. Less saliva allows sensations like hot/cold to affect the teeth more.
Underlying issues surface: Pre-existing problems like early cavities, cracked teeth or gum disease may only cause discomfort when we’re fatigued. Tiredness reduces our pain threshold.
Nutrition impact: Being tired can alter digestion and nutrient absorption. This may affect teeth/gum health if stressed for long periods.
Posture changes: Poor posture when exhausted puts more pressure on the jaw joint which can radiate as toothache.
Bruxism flares up: The involuntary teeth grinding or jaw clenching of bruxism may worsen when body is fatigued.
How can I stop my teeth from hurting at night?
- Use a night guard. This protects your teeth if you grind them at night. Custom fitted guards are best
- Practice good oral hygiene .Brush twice a day and floss once daily to remove plaque and food debris that causes issues over time.
- Get dental issues addressed .Cavities, cracks, gum disease – see your dentist ASAP for treatment to eliminate sources of pain.
- Check on old fillings or crowns .Fillings deteriorate, exposing sensitive areas. Dentist should inspect for replacements.
- Manage stress before bed .Relax body and mind with breathing, meditation, yoga to reduce grinding and clenching.
- Don’t eat/drink before sleeping . Acids impact teeth longer without saliva dilution before bed.
- Sleep on side instead of face down .Less pressure on teeth in side position.
- Use prescription-strength fluoride toothpaste .Helps strengthen enamel to resist decay issues.
- Try over-the-counter toothache relief .Gels, rinses can temporarily ease pain from many causes.
- See your dentist if self-care isn’t working .Only a professional can properly diagnose and treat the underlying cause.
- Proper daily care, stress relief, addressing existing issues, seeing dentist regularly can all help stop nighttime tooth pain.
Key takeaways
Teeth grinding while sleeping can damage teeth over time. Using a night guard can prevent this.
Cavities hurt more in the morning without saliva. Seeing the dentist treats cavities and stops the pain.
Gingivitis causes swollen gums that push on nerves when lying down, causing toothache. Brush well to keep gums healthy.
Cracks let bacteria in deep under the tooth. Dentists fix cracks to keep bugs out.
Other causes for why do my teeth hurt when i wake up are infections, acid reflux, or teething in babies. Seeing the dentist finds the problem and fixes it.
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