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Why is dental pain worse at night?

F

freakout

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 26, 2005
Messages
1,710
Kind of a silly question:rolleyes: Why is it that dental pain is worse at night? I have been having tooth pain for quite sometime (as Gordon knows all to well:p) The pain subsided quite a bit for several weeks, and started up (with a vengence) a few days ago. At night I tell myself I am just going back and having it removed (it is a crowned tooth that would require an rct by a specialist which I can't afford, an my track record with rct's is not good to say the least:shame:) But in the morning I think, well maybe it is getting better....maybe it will subside again. Is there a reason for the nighttime pain?

(By the way Gordon, I finally figured out which tooth was causing the problem. I thought it was another tooth, but I did the Ice test:o and to my dismay, I realized exactly which tooth it was.)
 
I don't know if this is a scientifically accurate explanation, but I read elsewhere that "If your pain is from nerve damage and you are getting the spontanous night pain try sleeping in a sitting position. The nerve and pulp chamber doesn't get filled with fluid and blood and usually u don't get that throbbing pain." (it's on the DIY Dentistry page).
 
Yeah...it is sore when I lay down, I can undertand that. But the pain usually gets really bad around 6-7pm and lasts through the night, before I even try to lay down. I figure it is one of those subconscious things. I used to work for doctors, and it used to be said pain/fever was at its worst at night, because you couldn't get in touch with your doctor then.
 
Hmmm... could it have something to do with circadian rhythms and pain perception? The second circadian wave starts around the time you mentioned ... do you get increased pain in the mornings as well (between 7 and 10am)? The second circadian wave is stronger than the first one, though.
 
Oh my goodness, I was going to give my explanation, but it's nothing as professional and reasonable sounding as letsconnect.

I was going to suggest that the reason pain seems worse at night is because we are more relaxed, haven't so much on our minds and therefore, sole concentration on the one thing - the pain - acutely heightens your awareness of it and therefore seemingly the level of it. Howzat?
 
No, its true. i remember, no matter how i stood or laid down, when i had that tooth ache all them years ago, it hurt like hell the moment the sun set intill the moment the sun rised. Honest to god. I remember, watching the sunset one day with the toothache, and within 4 minunts of it setting, the pain was back, with a vengence.
 
Hmmm... could it have something to do with circadian rhythms and pain perception? The second circadian wave starts around the time you mentioned ... do you get increased pain in the mornings as well (between 7 and 10am)? The second circadian wave is stronger than the first one, though.

No...just in the evening. It would be easier if the pain increased in the morning, as it would push me to call. Instead I get the hope that things are clearing up and things might settle down, at least until the holidays are over:thumbsup:
 
I was going to say basically what scaredstiff posted but with half a highschool education my best guess is that:thumbsup:
 
I am sure that it is probably one of those things our minds do to us. Making things worse when we have time to focus on them. Whenever I say I will call in the morning if it is the same, it is better in the morning. Probably more of mind over matter...that or else I am just getting used to the pain;)
 
Hi there,
I'm not completely sure this fits your pain but here's what I found out from a pharmacist...She said that pain avenues are a lot like highways.During the day there's a lot of traffic on the road so it's able to distract the pain somewhat where as at night when traffic slows down there's more space on the road to conduct the pain.Can't quite remember the exact words but it was something like this....Hope this helps
 
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