Finding the cause of toothaches or tooth pain might be a difficult task. Nothing is as boring as waking up with sensitive or painful teeth. So why do you wake up with hurting teeth?
While there might be various reasons, we think these are the most common reasons:
- Bruxism teeth (clenching or grinding)
- Impacted tooth
- Abscessed, a cracked tooth (Cavities)
- Periodontal disease (gum disease)
- Congestion or sinus infection
- Teeth whitening
- Temporomandibular joint dysfunction
Whenever you experience tooth pain or toothaches, it would be best to visit a dentist for your tooth to be treated. If you want to know the exact cause of your toothaches or tooth pain, it would be best to visit a dentist. Your sleeping position, bruxism, or impacted teeth (teeth clenching or grinding) may be your reason.
This article will discuss why your teeth hurt when you wake up and the possible remedies. Keep reading this paper to get well-detailed information. Let’s dive in!
Causes of Why Your Teeth Hurt When You Wake Up
If your teeth hurt when you wake up, there might be several possible causes of the pain. The causes include gum disease, congestion, cavities, teeth grinding, heart disease, and temporomandibular joint dysfunction. Moreover, for mild tooth pain, you can treat it at home. However, if you have intense tooth pain, it would be best to visit a dentist.
This section will explain the possible causes of why your teeth may hurt in the morning. The causes include:
1. Bruxism teeth (clenching or grinding)
Bruxism is a disorder where you clench or grind your teeth when you sleep, especially at night. When you wake up you might find that your teeth hurt. You may not be aware that you are clenching or grinding your teeth unless you experience the symptoms in the morning.
The symptoms include tooth pain, a sore jaw, and headaches. Moreover, grinding your teeth might eventually wear your enamel down. Then it will lead to increased pain and sensitivity that will make you feel uncomfortable.
If bruxism is causing your tooth pain, you can use a night guard to prevent tooth pain. The mouthguard protects your teeth from wear and damage that bruxism can cause. The benefit of a mouthguard is that it provides a cushion between your lower and upper teeth.
2. Impacted tooth
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Impacted teeth, in adults, appears like wisdom teeth. The impacted tooth will stick beneath the gum line when your mouth is small enough to accommodate all your teeth. Also, when your tooth attempts to erupt or develop pointing the wrong, the impacted tooth will stick beneath the gum line.
Your impacted teeth can stick in the bone or gum. When it cannot erupt and grow, it leads to pain in the surrounding teeth because of its pressure. Dentists recommend surgical removal of impacted teeth as the best treatment.
Moreover, fixing an impacted tooth with your home remedies can result in more harm to the tooth. If you feel that you have an impacted tooth, you should visit a dentist or other specialists.
3. Sleeping position
Your sleeping position may not cause your toothaches or your teeth to hurt when you wake up. However, it will intensify the toothache when you sleep at night because more blood flows to your head. Then it increases pressure which leads to increased tooth pain.
Sleep when your head is elevated if you find out that your sleeping position intensifies your tooth pain. For example, you may use a pillow when you are sleeping. Also, you can rest by making the side that hurts face up; this sleeping style will give you some relief.
A sleeping position cannot be the only cause of tooth pain. Even if these different sleeping postures reduce your tooth pain, you should visit a dentist. A dentist will run some tests on you and tell you the root cause of your tooth pain.
4. Abscessed, a cracked tooth (Cavities)
Tooth pain that comes from one specific tooth is an indication that the root cause is in that tooth. The common causes of such a case are cavities, an abscessed tooth, or a cracked tooth. These are tiny holes on the surface of your tooth. Cavities are also called tooth decay.
Cracked teeth are teeth that have cracks, and abscesses are infections inside or near your teeth. Once you understand cracked teeth, abscessed teeth, and cavities, it becomes easy to know the cause of your tooth pain.
Pain from cracked teeth and cavities comes and goes. However, abscessed teeth cause constant pain. Moreover, the treatments for cavities, abscessed teeth, and broken teeth vary. Another form of treatment is the extraction of the tooth or the root canal.
As you look forward to making an appointment with a dentist, you can avoid hard, hot, and cold foods. You can take some pain relievers to ease your pain. Moreover, you can avoid eating with side that has cavities.
Related article: Why Are My Teeth Yellow When I Brush Them Every day: Causes
5. Periodontal disease (gum disease)
Periodontal disease happens when the tissues around your teeth have infections. Inadequate flossing and brushing habits allow plaque to accumulate on your teeth. The accumulation of plaque on your teeth leads to gum disease.
When you have gum disease, your gum becomes tender and inflamed. Additionally, your teeth become weak and they can even fall out. If your teeth do not come out, tissue inflammation alone is enough to cause tooth pain.
You can visit a periodontist or a dentist to diagnose and treat your gum disease. In the meantime, as you wait to see your dentist, you can take some measures to help with the disease. If you are a smoker, avoid smoking to stop to improve your oral hygiene.
It would be best to practice teeth maintenance habits such as flossing and brushing twice daily. You can eat foods such as sugarcane juice and milk; it makes your teeth stronger. Anytime you suspect you have gum disease, schedule an appointment right away.
6. Congestion or sinus infection
A sinus infection causes you to feel pain in the upper teeth even if the congestion has not evolved fully into a condition (sinus). The pressure from your congestion affects your teeth which makes you feel pain.
If you get a sinus infection, the sinuses will become swollen and inflamed. Then the pressure will surround the tissue and bone of the teeth. Because of the pressure, you will start feeling pain in your tooth.
To relieve the pain of a sinus infection, ensure you are well hydrated. Also, you can breathe in steam or vapor from hot water. Additionally, you can purchase a nasal decongestant, which is in the form of a spray. You can also buy some pain relievers to ease the pain.
It should visit a doctor for an antibiotic prescription if the sinus infection persists.
7. Teeth whitening
Teeth whitening causes tooth sensitivity that usually subsides when you stop using whitening products. You are likely to experience morning tooth pain if you used the whitening product the previous night.
Using a whitening product or excessive use may expose the tooth nerves. It is the reason why your tooth becomes sensitive. You may experience pain if you consume cold and hot foods.
If you sleep and your mouth remains open through the night, your teeth will dry. This will then result in exacerbation of tooth sensitivity because of using tooth whitening. Moreover, if whitening your teeth is causing pain, you can use a different whitening product.
You should visit the dentist before using whitening products. The dentist will run some tests on your sensitivity and give you the best guidance. You might also elect to use whitening treatments less frequently or stop using them altogether.
Teeth whitening is not a bad thing; however, how you do it will determine whether you will have tooth sensitivity. It is good to have white teeth; it boosts your self-esteem and makes you smile. Always consult your dentist if you intend to use it.
8. Temporomandibular joint dysfunction
It is a disorder that makes the temporomandibular joint dysfunctional. The temporomandibular joint connects your skull and your jaw. If your temporomandibular joint stops working properly, you will experience various symptoms. They include tooth pain, jaw pain, and soreness around the jaw.
Sometimes the temporomandibular joint overworks the jaw muscles, which leads to tooth pain. However, this disorder is uncommon; only one may experience it out of ten people. You can use a mouth guard at night to prevent it.
If you suspect that temporomandibular joint dysfunction is making you have tooth pain, you should visit a dentist. The dentist will diagnose you and determine if the dysfunction is the cause of your tooth pain.
9. Heart disease or heart attack
Morning teeth pain may indicate a heart attack or heart disease. The nerve runs through your jaw and heart. The vagus nerves are responsible for connecting your tooth pain and heart trouble.
Suppose your dentist is unable to establish the cause of your tooth pain. It’s best to consult a cardiologist. Moreover, if you have tooth pain accompanied by shortness of breath, tightness, or chest pains, visit the emergency room immediately.
10. Pregnancy
Pregnancy does not cause tooth pain; however, it increases the risk of gum disease. During pregnancy, hormonal imbalance occurs, which might interfere with your dental health. Moreover, pregnant women are susceptible dry mouths since the saliva is used to wash bacteria away.
Gum disease, which causes tooth pain, is more likely in people who have dry mouths. When pregnant, it is beneficial to visit the dentist to ensure your dental health is perfect.
How to Minimize Morning Tooth Pain?
You should visit a dentist for some of the causes of tooth pain, and some of them may be treated at home. If you have booked your appointment or have started experiencing dental pain in the morning, try the tips below.
a). Try using good oral products for sensitive teeth like a soft toothbrush. You can also use toothpaste that protects against tartar, tooth sensitivity, plaque, cavities, and sensitive gums.
b). You should avoid eating too cold or hot foods. You also need to reduce your intake of acidic and sugary foods to preserve your enamel
c). Use a cotton ball containing clove oil and put it on the painful part of the tooth. The clove oil has eugenol, which gives an anesthetic effect to your tooth and helps relieve the pain as you sleep. Several drops of the oil can also be applied straight to your gums.
d). Use peppermint tea on your tooth. The tea has a good flavor and soothing effect. You can swish the tea and spit it out or swallow the tea.
e). You can place ice cubes or an ice pack on the painful tooth. You will put the ice on an affected area for fifteen minutes, then remove it. The ice helps to numb the nerves hence, providing relief.
g). Dissolve some salt in water, then swish for a minute, then spit it out. The salty water acts as a cleanser by reducing swelling and inflammation. It also helps to fight bacteria-causing infections. It would be best if you do this before you sleep.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why does your tooth hurt after waking up?
It is uncommon for your teeth to hurt in the morning, but if it does, the causes may be dental conditions. The conditions include gum disease, cavities, and tooth whitening. It may also be health-related issues such as heart disease or pregnancy.
2. Are toothaches painful at night?
Yes, they are painful. The sleeping position determines the degree of pain in a tooth. When you are asleep more blood flows to your head, which leads to extra pressure on the tooth, making it more painful. The best position to sleep is facing up, especially the part with the toothache.
3. When should I visit the dentist?
You should visit your dentist regularly. Also, you should not wait until you have dental problems. Regular checkups will ensure your teeth stays healthy. Moreover, you will be saving some money in the long run. Compared to waiting until you develop dental issues, which might cause you more money.
4. How does water help in dental health?
Water is essential for your general health as well as your teeth. Water helps wash away food residue and bacteria that lead to tooth decay. It also ensures you do not have a dry mouth. Having a dry mouth increases the risk of getting gum disease.
5. Will your teeth hurt when you wake up in the morning if you eat acidic foods?
When you eat excess acidic foods, they damage your enamel. Examples of acidic foods include citrus, sugary candies, and soda. When your enamel becomes damaged, it will be susceptible to nerve breakdown, leading to tooth pain. Reduce eating acidic foods and brush them thirty minutes after them.
If you brush when acidic food is present in the mouth, you will damage your teeth.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, we have discussed the causes above about why your teeth hurt when you wake up or in the morning. You can use the tips I have shared to reduce your morning toothaches. To avoid tooth pain, ensure you have a regular checkup with your dentist. Additionally, it would be best to practice taking good care of your teeth.
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