You wake up with the ringing noise of your alarm, and you hit snooze, but wait! The alarms are not the only thing ringing….but also your teeth? Waking up with sore or aching teeth and wondering what happened last night, and questioning, “Man! Why do my teeth hurt when I wake up?”

Morning toothaches are common, and the cause is not always the same. It can be caused by grinding your teeth while sleeping, sinus issues, or even illness. There can be many different reasons behind that discomfort. Today, we will dig deep and find out what those sneaky reasons behind the toothache are.

Wondering Why Do My Teeth Hurt When I Wake Up?

Waking up with a toothache is not a pretty pain. For me, having a toothache is cancelling all my plans and moving to bed. You want to have a good morning, and then that bad sore tooth comes in, banging. Here are some common reasons that answer your question, “Why do my teeth hurt when I wake up?”.

1. Teeth Grinding

Teeth grinding is rubbing teeth together, which is also called bruxism.

Bruxism is when you clench or grind your teeth while you sleep, and this happens without you knowing it. This adds pressure on your teeth and makes them sore and sensitive. You might grind your teeth together for various reasons, like:

• Stress or anxiety
• Sleep disorders
• Biting issues

If you are unsure that this might be the reason behind your toothache in the morning. Look for signs, click sounds in your jaw, headaches, and chipped teeth. Wearing a nightguard to protect your teeth from grinding can be a good solution.

2. Sinus Infections

Did you know that your nose and teeth nerves are connected? The toothache you are experiencing might not even be a dental issue, but a nasal one. Your upper back teeth are located close to your sinus cavities. When those sinuses get allergies, infection, or a cold, it creates pressure on your teeth and makes them ache.

This also explains why your teeth start aching when you get a cold.

Signs the answer to “why do my teeth hurt when I wake up” might be sinuses:

• Stuffy or runny nose
• Pain around your cheeks and forehead
• Tooth pain all around the mouth, not just one spot

If you are experiencing sinus infections, try using a steam or a hot shower to clear them out. Do reach out to a doctor to help you.

3. You Clench Your Jaw

Even if you do not grind your teeth, you might be clenching your jaw. You do this and sometimes do not even realize it. Clenching puts a lot of pressure on your teeth and jaw muscles. This creates the pain you might be experiencing in the morning.

Signs you might be clenching your jaw

• A popping sound in your jaw
• Tightness around your jaw
• Morning neck tension
• Tooth sensitivity

You might be clenching your jaw because of mental or emotional issues, anxiety, tension, or just a habit.

To relax your mouth from clenching, try face stretches and breathing exercises. If this continues, do visit a doctor who can offer you guidance.

4. Dental Issues

There is a high chance that the pain you feel in the morning is due to a dental issue. If you are wondering, “Why do my teeth hurt when I get up? “, it might be due to a cavity, a cracked tooth, or even gum disease. This pain can get bigger if not treated in time.

Signs it might be a dental issue:

• You have tooth decay or cavities
• Cracked or broken teeth
• Gum infections
• Bleeding gums
• Bad breath and taste in your mouth
• Pain in one spot only
• Sharp pain when biting

If you check any of the above items, visit a dentist to help fix your issues. Do not linger with the treatment, it can save you from bigger pain later.

5. Sleeping position

How you sleep can also affect the pain you feel in the morning. We regularly change our sleep position throughout the night without realizing it. Sometimes we wake up with a bad hand, pain, or neck tension, and all that happens because of our sleeping position.

If you sleep with your face pressed into the pillow, this can put pressure on your jaw and teeth.  This might be why you are experiencing a bad toothache in the morning.

Signs to watch out for:

• You wake up with sore muscles
• Dry mouth in the morning
• Sensitivity around your teeth
• You sleep on your stomach

To help yourself relieve and get the solution to the question of why do my teeth hurt when you wake up, sleep on your back, and be gentler on your face. Try not to breathe through your mouth. [1]

Or…. it might just be a different kind of pain, like :

Tooth Pain Under Crown Comes and Goes: 5 Reasons

My Teeth hurt in The Morning! When Should I See a Dentist?

While some tooth pain can come and go and be relieved with home remedies, persistent pain might mean that you should see a dentist. Seeing a dentist helps you identify what is wrong with your teeth and spot hidden problems like cavities, gum disease, jaw issues, and more.

See a dentist if:

• The pain lasts for more than a few days
• The pain keeps on coming back, no matter what you try
• You start noticing swelling, bleeding, or even pus
• Pain killers do not relieve your pain
• The pain is hindering your daily life

Getting help early can save you from a lot of pain and money. If you feel like you should see a dentist, do not wait!

Conclusion

Why do my teeth hurt when I wake up? A common question asked by many!

Waking up with tooth pain is not fun; it is very uncomfortable. There might be some reasons that might be the reason behind it, like grinding your teeth, clenching your jaw, sinus pressure, and more. Teeth pain can be lousy and irritating. Do check with your dentist to find out what is actually bothering your teeth.

References

The Brux Doc. (2022, March 25). Why do my teeth hurt in the morning? Teeth Night Guard. https://www.teethnightguard.com/community/blog/why-do-my-teeth-hurt-in-the-morningteethnightguard.com