Many things can cause chronic headaches, but would you have ever thought that problems with your jaw could be the culprit?
Jaw problems, particularly those classified as temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), are sometimes the root cause of headaches and migraines. TMD is the collective term for the issues that affect the temporomandibular joints (TMJs) and the muscles and other structures around the TMJs.
In many cases, TMD is described as pain and tenderness when the jaw is in use, noisy joint sounds with jaw opening, and limited jaw movement or jaw stiffness.
Some researchers estimate that TMD affects almost 50 percent of the United States population, and 10 percent of those affected suffer from painful symptoms.
As we said, TMDs are a common problem. They also don’t just cause pain in the jaw joints; they can cause a slew of other issues, such as ear pain, neck pain and, you guessed it, headaches.
But why?
Primarily because the muscles surrounding the temporomandibular joints (which connect your lower jaw to your skull) tense up because your jaw is out of alignment, or you clench your teeth because your jaw is out of alignment, which causes pain.
This pain can spread to other muscles under and around your jaw, your cheeks, your neck, under your eye and even the top of your head. When these muscles are very tense, they can cause a headache.
How Is a TMD-Related Headache Different?
A headache is a headache is a headache, right? No, not really. There are many different types of headaches, and TMD headaches generally occur with other symptoms. These symptoms include:
- Very tight facial or jaw muscles
- Pain in the jaw
- Facial pain
- Clicking, cracking or snapping noise in the jaw
- Difficulty opening and closing the jaw, jaw stiffness
- Changes to your bite (how your top and bottom teeth fit together)
Additionally, TMD headaches frequently feel like “tension headaches,” and sufferers report feeling as if their head is being squeezed. Others describe it as a tight, dull, aching feeling. TMD headaches frequently occur on one side of the head but can happen on both sides.
Here’s one way to tell if your chronic head pain is related to issues with your temporomandibular joints or TMD: it is worse on the side of the head where you have experienced jaw pain, muscle pain or soreness. If you notice your head pain is worse on the side where your TMD pain occurs or is aggravated by jaw movement from talking, eating and chewing, you likely are experiencing a TMD headache.
Misdiagnosis Is Common
Because TMD can cause head pain, many sufferers often live for years with TMD and its painful symptoms because they think they just have chronic headaches. Many people living with TMD headaches experience years of frustration and pain on the path to getting a TMD diagnosis.
How Are TMD Headaches Treated?
There are several ways TMD headaches can be treated, but many of these methods don’t bring genuine relief — they only treat its symptoms. These treatments include:
- Over-the-counter pain relievers
- Prescription medications
- Muscle relaxers
- Self-care, such as moist heat or ice on the jaw to relieve inflammation
- Eating soft foods
- Lifestyle changes like reducing stress or avoiding hard and chewy foods like beef jerky and chewing gum
- Avoiding things like wide yawning and a lot of talking
Again, while these things can help reduce the pain of TMD and subsequently painful TMD headaches, treating the cause of TMD headaches—the TMD itself — is the best course of action to bring you long-term relief.
The real relief comes when the source of your pain is identified. In most cases, your TMD is caused by your jaws being unbalanced, which means your bite is off.
Jaws can become unbalanced due to injury or trauma, but in most cases, they develop that way due to disruption of your genetics. In many cases, this disruption comes from environmental or genetic factors, such as pollution or genetic disorders. While these facts are beyond your control, some things can disrupt proper jaw growth after you’re born, too, including:
- Tongue- and lip-ties
- Poor myofunctional (tongue) habits
- Chronic mouth breathing caused by enlarged tonsils and adenoids, allergies or frequent upper respiratory illness
- Open mouth posture
- Poor oral habits, including prolonged pacifier use, prolonged thumb sucking and extended sippy cup use
When the jaws are balanced through developmental orthodontic treatment or through oral appliances, that put the jaw in the correct position to improve balance.
When the jaws are in harmony, the muscles, ligaments and tissues around the TMJs relax, which causes the muscles, ligaments and tissues in the head (the ones that tense up and cause your headaches) to relax.
The result is true relief for you.
At Restore Modern Dentistry, we understand the physiological makeup of the jaw. We know that when the jaws are out of alignment, the result can be painful symptoms, including headaches and migraines. We’re here to help. Call us today to schedule your exam and consultation.