Is TMJ Causing Your Headaches?
You can’t definitively diagnose whether you have TMJ-related headaches, but if you have other symptoms related to TMJ, you should suspect that TMJ is at least partly to blame for your headaches. Common symptoms associated with TMJ are jaw pain, neck pain, and back pain.
If you have these symptoms and headaches, TMJ may be the problem. Here are some signs that TMJ may be causing your persistent headaches.
Headaches Occur after Jaw Activity
One of the key indicators linking TMJ to headaches is that intense jaw activity can trigger them. This includes actions like chewing tough foods, opening your mouth wide, talking for long periods, and other activities that strain your jaw muscles. If you’re experiencing these symptoms, consulting a Wilmington, NC dentist can help identify whether TMJ is contributing to your headaches.
Interestingly, while research increasingly associates TMJ with migraines rather than tension-type headaches, it’s not to say that only migraines are linked to TMJ. However, TMJ tends to exacerbate migraines more than other types of headaches.
You Clench Your Teeth Before, During, or After Headaches
One kind of jaw activity that’s worth singling out is teeth clenching or bruxism. Bruxism is a parafunction–something you’re doing with your jaw that you’re not supposed to do–often associated with TMJ and Wilmington TMJ-related headaches. Bruxism can occur during the day or night, so it may be responsible for those morning headaches you get (though that could also be sleep apnea).
You Also Have Jaw Pain, Clicking, or Restricted Movement
Temporomandibular joint disorders often manifest in the jaw first or at the same time as they cause symptoms elsewhere. If you experience jaw pain, that’s a sign you have TMJ that may be causing your headaches. Jaw sounds like clicking or popping occur because the cushioning disk in the temporomandibular joint is out of place, but can slip back into place–that causes the sound. Restricted jaw movement occurs when the disk won’t slip back in place but rather interferes with the motion of your jaw.
You Experience Other Wilmington TMJ Symptoms
Headaches are a common TMJ symptom, but it’s not the only one outside the jaw. Check for other related symptoms, such as:
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears), ear stuffiness, or ear pain
- Vertigo or dizzy spells
- Tooth damage or wear
- Neck, shoulder, or upper back pain
- Tingling or numbness in the fingers
If you experience one or more of these symptoms in addition to the jaw symptoms listed above, then it’s likely that TMJ is contributing to your headaches.
The “Pencil Test”
Here’s a quick test you can perform at home. It’s not foolproof, but it can give you a hint that TMJ might be contributing to your headaches.
Next time you have a headache, gently hold a pencil between your teeth. If it changes the pain you’re feeling–either lessening it or increasing it–then it’s likely that TMJ is contributing to your headaches.
Types of Headaches Caused By TMJ
As well as the various symptoms TMJ can cause, there are different types of TMJ-related headaches that you can have. Here are some you may experience:
TMJ and Tension Headaches
The most common type of headache and most commonly associated with TMJ. In Wilmington, NC, tension headaches, your muscles pull on your head, constricting it. TMJ can cause this type because muscle tension in your jaw muscles is passed on to muscles in the head, which partner with those in the jaw.
We can demonstrate the excessive force in your bite and how that translates into tension in your jaw muscles. The T-Scan digital bite sensor records how much force each tooth is experiencing when you bite down. We can show you how imbalanced these forces are and where your teeth are subjected to the most force. Then we can use the electromyograph in the K-7 to measure how much tension is being carried in your jaw muscles, tension that can translate into tension headaches.
This type of headache is generally mild or moderate in intensity, but it can recur frequently, becoming very disruptive.
TMJ and Migraine Headaches
Because we’re not clear about what causes migraines, we’re still not entirely clear about the link between TMJ and migraines in Wilmington. One explanation is that TMJ causes a tension headache, which can serve as a migraine trigger. Another explanation is that TMJ can lead to trigeminal nerve irritation, where many migraines start.
However, we know that people with TMJ often experience migraines and that migraine frequency and intensity typically diminish after TMJ treatment. In rare cases, TMJ treatment may completely eliminate TMJ-related migraines in Wilmington, NC.
TMJ and Referred Pain Headaches
Have you ever wondered why left arm pain is a common symptom of a heart attack? It’s not because a heart attack actually makes your arm hurt; it’s because your brain thinks heart pain is coming from the arm. This is known as referred pain, and it can also work when your brain thinks jaw pain is a headache. It sounds crazy, but this is one explanation for ice cream headaches—the pain is in the upper part of your mouth, but your brain thinks it’s a headache.
Referred pain headaches are alleviated by treating and eliminating jaw pain.
Receive Effective Headache Treatment in Wilmington
Functional braces are orthodontic appliances designed to correct bite issues by repositioning the jaws and teeth. Unlike traditional braces that primarily align the teeth, functional braces influence jaw growth and positioning, making them particularly effective for treating overbites, underbites, and other skeletal concerns. These braces work by guiding the teeth and jaws into proper alignment, utilizing the natural growth of the jaw—especially in younger patients whose bones are still developing.
In some cases, misalignment of the jaw can contribute to conditions like TMJ disorder, which may cause chronic headaches and migraines. TMJ-related headaches can be painful and disruptive to daily life, but effective treatment options are available.
If you’re experiencing persistent headaches and suspect TMJ may be the cause, Kuzma Advanced Dentistry in Wilmington, NC, can help. Call (910) 392-6060 today to learn how functional braces and TMJ treatment can relieve your symptoms and improve your overall oral health.
