Why do my teeth hurt MORE at night??

[newsboysgrl777]

The subject really says it all... I mean, it seems that EVERY DAY during the day, my teeth are fine and no soreness, then later in the evening they start to get achy, and then into the night they are SUPER SORE!! Why is this?? Is this just me? Is it a phase? Just coincidence? Anybody have any ideas/answers??

And, when will they stop being sore? *cries* LOL This is kind of in direct connection with my question about pressing on your teeth or rubbing your gums or whatever, because when they start to hurt like this, I can't stop trying to relieve the pain in any way that I can...but I don't want it to set me back at all.

Also, does this mean that when it starts to hurt again, they're actually moving? Or could this really be ANYTHING??

Thanks for your insight!!

[Sunny]

I don't know, except that maybe you take more notice of your teeth at night and therefore notice that they're sore, or maybe you have a busy day of talking and eating, and at night your mouth is at rest ... and then you feel it. That's a bit like when other parts of the body hurt, and we don't feel them till they're at rest. I've never had pain and rarely any discomfort, so I can't help, and we tell our patients the following -
Pain is rare, but if you feel pain, please phone us and tell us about it. Discomfort is often felt for a day or two, or maybe even a week or two. During that time, use wax generously to toughen your mouth. Keep well hydrated and rinse as many times as you can during the day, with warm salt water. Chewing may also help with discomfort, as it increases blood flow and helps with tooth movement. Only chew sugar free gum that has 'won't stick to most dental work' written on the package. ... ... ... our patients also get a book that's been written by our ortho's which has stuff they can refer to in.

We also give a short splurge about how people feel pain/discomfort differently and that while a tooth moving does not hurt most people, it can cause some discomfort to others. We ask them to tell us about any discomfort they've been having and we try and help them to find ways to deal with it, as orthodontic treatment should not be uncomfortable.

I really feel for you, nine months into treatment and still so aware you have braces. I can't imagine how frustrating that is, and I hope it gets better for you soon. I rarely remember I have braces, except when eating and then only vaguely. I guess the main time I remember mine, is before going to bed ... as I'm very careful about my nightly clean.

Maybe your mouth is sensitive to teeth moving and you will feel this. Fortunately for most people this doesn't happen, as I'm sure you realise that teeth do loads of moving during ortho treatment.

Have you asked your ortho why you feel so many aches? Even if you have, maybe bring it up again at your next adjustment

Your lowers are still relatively new ... maybe you're taking longer to adjust to them than you'd hoped and as soon as you do, you'll forget you have them ... I really hope so!

Good luck!

[Denise]

Far as I can see it's probably just like Sunny said, from eating and talking all day. My jaw still gets really tired and sore when eating dinner or talking at night, but I've only had my braces for a month. But still, if you've had your lower brackets for almost a month I would say there definitely shouldn't be pain. Soreness perhaps, but not pain. My ortho told me to call them if I experience any pain longer than a week after adjustments. I'm on day 5 of getting my arch wire and my pain is gone, though I do still have some sensitivity to pressure and can't use my front teeth yet.

Good luck, I hope you can find some relief soon!

[newsboysgrl777]

Yeah...maybe I'm mis-using the word pain. It's nowhere near what it was when I first got them on, but it's more than just general pressure. I do have that...sometimes more than other times...but sometimes there is A LOT of soreness, you know? I'm thinking it must mean my teeth are doing something. And, I say that because I see a little space between my two bottom teeth - where they used to slightly overlap!!!

[mariahfromchicago]

Wow! That's great that your bottom teeth are straightening out.

[Sunny]

Rae it could be that your mouth is more sensitive to your teeth moving, so that is what you're feeling.

Fantastic that you can see changes with your lowers!

[Zoso]

I seem to recall Dr. Tam mentioning that our teeth move more at night - related, perhaps?

[Wallflower]

My teeth hurt more first thing in the morning. It feels like I've been clenching my jaw all night and my teeth feel like there was a lot of pressure on them. I don't know if this is similar to what you feel.

[Anny]

I think mine move more at night too. I haven't decided if its because I have nothing else to distract me or they finally get a reprieve from all my chewing and yakking Funny that you still feel movement on the top ones though. I got mine 6 months ago and never feel anything anymore.