Could Your Dentist Help Cure Your Headaches?

You have a nagging headache that just won’t quit. You’ve tried everything from pain medications and natural remedies to relaxation techniques. But have you considered consulting your dentist?

Tension headaches are often poorly diagnosed and treated even though they are the most common – an estimated 40% of North Americans have suffered this type of headache. Other head-related pain issues such as migraines and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder can also severely impact quality of life and could be connected to your dental health.

jawHow Teeth Cause Headaches

Many tension headaches are related to your bite. These types of headaches result from muscle tension, which can be held anywhere in the body including your face and jaw. When your muscles are tight for a long time, they will start to ache. Many people don’t realize they are holding this tension or how complex the muscles and mechanisms involved in controlling your jaw and supporting your head are! When you have a “bad bite”, your teeth don’t align properly during chewing and swallowing. And think about how many times per day you use your jaw – over 2000 times! Your jaw never stops working, and those muscles need to work even harder to correct imbalances created by a bad bite. This pain may be felt in your jaw or mouth, but is commonly also referred to other places like the front of your head

Image source: ePainAssist.com

Signs of Dental-Related Headaches

Some signs that your headache might be originating from your mouth and/or jaw include:

• Pain behind your eyes
• Grinding teeth
• Popping or clicking jaw sounds
• Sore jaw muscles when you wake up
• Back or neck pain
• Sinus pain
• Signs of wear and tear on cuspids (also called canine teeth and these should be pointed)

How Can my Dentist Help?

Your dentist is an expert in the anatomy and physiology of your oral and facial structures and muscles. He or she will examine your teeth, jaw and muscles to help determine if dental stress is the source of your headaches. You may require dental treatment (such as bite re-alignment) or a referral to other services (such as physiotherapy or counseling).

Contact the team at Royal Square Dentist for your consultation and get to the source of that headache today.