You’ve got a headache…yet again. The pain radiates through your head and down your neck. It sends shooting pains into your jaw. Is it a tension headache? Maybe a migraine? Or a series of TMJ migraines?
Knowing what kind of pain you’re experiencing will help you figure out the best way to treat it. One of the most common causes of headaches and migraines is TMD which affects the jaw joint. TMD stands for temperomandibular joint disorder and is sometimes referred to as TMJ Disorder.
How do you know if this is what you’re dealing with? If it is the cause of your problem, what can you do to avoid painful TMJ migraines?
TMJ Migraines – Not Just Jaw Pain
Migraines can be caused by chemicals, smells, and even hormones. A jaw joint migraine can be painful due to muscle tension and spasms in the face, around the head, and down through the neck and shoulders.
Knowing if a migraine is caused by TMJ issues is important. There are underlying issues that need to be treated. We will discuss 3 of those in this post.
Sleep problems can also indicate of TMJ issues. Nocturnal jaw clenching and teeth grinding cause muscle pain and lead to disturbed sleep. You can even wake up to cracked or broken teeth.
Anyone experiencing even occasional jaw pain should be evaluated by their dentist. A dentist can give a patient with headaches, sleep problems or migraines ways to prevent jaw joint damage and pain.
3 Common Causes of Jaw Pain and Headaches
1. Arthritis
Arthritis is an inflammatory autoimmune disease that can affect any part of the body. The inflammation can contribute to changes in the bone and cause a lot of pain. According to theNational Institute of Health, early diagnosis of TMJ arthritis can be difficult to diagnose. Thankfully, we are always advancing in the latest x-ray technology.
2. Trauma
According to EMedicineHealth.com, there are two types of trauma that can affect that jaw—internal and external. External refers to someone who sustained an injury to their face or jaw. Internal traumas happen to people that chronically grind their teeth or clench their jaws. This type of trauma causes sore muscles and corresponding inflammation.
3. Misaligned Teeth
The whole mouth is out of alignment when the teeth does not mesh properly. This misalignment puts pressure on the muscles, tendons, and joint. This results in pain, TMJ cartilage damage, and cracked/broken teeth.
Protect Yourself from TMJ Migraines
The best course of action if you experience even occasional jaw symptoms is to discuss the matter with your dentist.
There are a number of suggestions they will give you, including massage, heat application, foods to avoid, and dental procedures that can protect your TMJ and teeth.
At Deldar Dental, we take pain seriously. If you’re dealing with TMJ migraines, muscles soreness, or sleep problems – give us a call. We will do all we can to help you feel better fast! You can also watch video testimonials here and meet Dr. Deldar’s happy patients!
