Why does my toothache get worse at night?

Lying flat raises blood pressure in the head and the inflamed nerve feels every pulse of it. Elevation helps tonight; treating the cause fixes the nights after. Call — this pattern usually means the nerve is involved.

Will I need a root canal?

Not automatically. Toothaches also come from cracked fillings, gum infection, sinus pressure, and grinding. The exam and an X-ray tell us which story yours is — and you'll hear options plainly, with prices, before anything happens.

The pain comes and goes. Emergency or not?

Intermittent pain earns a prompt visit rather than a same-hour one — but on our schedule that's this week, not next month. Call and describe it; we'll slot it honestly.

Can antibiotics alone fix an infected tooth?

No — they can calm an infection, but the source inside the tooth remains, and the infection returns when they stop. Antibiotics buy time when needed; treatment ends it.

Call now: 434-823-4080

emergency dentistry

Toothache: relief steps now, real answers today.

Start with the simplest fix: floss gently on both sides of the tooth. A popcorn hull or seed wedged under the gum causes more 2am panic than cavities do. If that's not it, work the steps below and call us — 434-823-4080.

Book online Call now: 434-823-4080

At home, right now

Rinse with warm salt water — half a teaspoon in a glass, swish and spit. Take ibuprofen or acetaminophen as their labels direct; alternating them controls dental pain better than either alone for many people.

Cold compress on the outside of the cheek, 15 minutes on and off. Keep anything hot away from the tooth, and don't sleep flat — elevation eases the throb.

Never put aspirin against the gum. It's an acid; it burns the tissue and helps nothing.

When a toothache stops being a wait-and-see

Call today if: the pain wakes you at night, hot or cold sets off lingering pain, your face or gum is swelling, you have a fever, or it hurts to bite down. Those patterns point to infection or a dying nerve — things that get bigger, not better, on their own.

Pain that vanished on its own is not a resolution — a nerve that stops hurting abruptly has often died, with infection still on schedule. That tooth still needs eyes on it this week.

Questions we hear in the chair

Why does my toothache get worse at night?: Lying flat raises blood pressure in the head and the inflamed nerve feels every pulse of it. Elevation helps tonight; treating the cause fixes the nights after. Call — this pattern usually means the nerve is involved.
Will I need a root canal?: Not automatically. Toothaches also come from cracked fillings, gum infection, sinus pressure, and grinding. The exam and an X-ray tell us which story yours is — and you'll hear options plainly, with prices, before anything happens.
The pain comes and goes. Emergency or not?: Intermittent pain earns a prompt visit rather than a same-hour one — but on our schedule that's this week, not next month. Call and describe it; we'll slot it honestly.
Can antibiotics alone fix an infected tooth?: No — they can calm an infection, but the source inside the tooth remains, and the infection returns when they stop. Antibiotics buy time when needed; treatment ends it.

Clinical content reviewed by Dr. Marissa DeAngelis, Senior Dentist.

Serving Crozet for 50+ years. At least two full-time doctors in the building, Monday through Friday. Call for current availability.