It is a familiar and dreaded scenario: You go to bed feeling fine, or perhaps with a slight niggle in your tooth. Then, at 3 AM, you wake up in excruciating, throbbing agony. Dental pain is notorious for striking at night, often because lying down increases blood pressure to the head, increasing pressure in the sensitive, inflamed tooth pulp.
While home remedies can never cure a dental infection (only a dentist can do that), they can help manage the pain enough to let you get a few hours of sleep until our clinic opens. Here is a dentist-approved guide to surviving the night.
1. Anti-Inflammatory Medication
Most dental pain is caused by inflammation. Therefore, anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Ibuprofen are generally more effective for toothache than Paracetamol alone.
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Guidance: If you are medically able to take them (no asthma, stomach ulcers, or allergies), taking Ibuprofen at regular intervals can reduce the inflammation in the nerve. Some patients find relief taking Paracetamol and Ibuprofen in combination (staggered), but always follow the dosage instructions on the packet strictly. Never exceed the recommended dose.
2. Keep Your Head Elevated
As mentioned, lying flat causes blood to rush to your head, increasing the throbbing sensation. Try to sleep propped up on two or three pillows, or even sleep in a recliner chair if possible. Keeping your head above your heart can significantly reduce the throbbing pressure.
3. Salt Water Rinses
Salt water is a natural disinfectant and can help reduce swelling and clean out debris around the painful tooth.
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Book an appointment with our team →- Mix a teaspoon of salt into a cup of warm (not boiling) water.
- Swish it around your mouth for 30 seconds, focusing on the painful area.
- Spit it out. Repeat 3-4 times.
4. Clove Oil
Clove oil contains eugenol, which is a natural anaesthetic and antiseptic. It has been used in dentistry for centuries.
How to use: Apply a tiny amount of clove oil to a cotton ball and gently dab it onto the painful tooth or gum. Be careful not to swallow it or use too much, as it can irritate the tongue.
5. Cold Compress
If your face is swollen, apply a cold compress or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel to the outside of your cheek. Hold it there for 10-15 minutes, then take a break. The cold constricts blood vessels, numbs the area, and helps reduce swelling.
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Warning: Do not apply heat (like a hot water bottle) to a swollen face. Heat draws more blood to the area and can make the infection spread faster.
What NOT to Do
- Do NOT put Aspirin on the gum: There is an old myth that placing an aspirin tablet directly on the gum next to the tooth helps. This causes a severe chemical burn called an "aspirin burn," leaving a painful white ulcer on your gum. Swallow the pill; don't park it.
- Do NOT ignore it if the pain stops: Sometimes, the nerve inside the tooth dies, and the pain suddenly vanishes. This does not mean you are healed; it means the infection is now moving silently into the bone. An abscess will follow. You still need treatment.
Book Your Appointment Immediately
These tips are stop-gap measures. You need to see a dentist as soon as the sun comes up. At Emergency Dentist London, we reserve slots every morning specifically for patients who have had a rough night.
Use our online booking system (available 24/7) to secure the first slot of the day, or call us at 08:00 AM.