Did you know that jaw joint problems can increase the frequency and severity of migraine and other intense headaches? It’s true. Temporomandibular joint disorder (often called TMJ or sometimes TMD), a condition in which a poorly aligned bite leads to improper jaw alignment and jaw dysfunction, has been linked to severe headaches, including migraines. Treatment of TMJ results in a reduction of the frequency and severity of headaches, including migraines.
Don’t live with debilitating migraines and don’t just take medication to mask the pain. Get a treatment that has been shown to reduce migraine and other headache triggers.
How TMJ Causes Migraines and Jaw Pain
The TMJ is a complex joint, designed to move in many directions and work in concert with muscles from the head and neck. The TMJ is also very close to many vital systems, including blood vessels and nerves that feed into the brain.
One of these is the trigeminal nerve, which is known to be the trigger point for migraine headaches. When your jaw joint is out of balance, jaw muscles can irritate the trigeminal nerve, which can trigger migraines.
Another possible headache trigger is when tense jaw muscles put extra tension on the muscles they work with. This leads to a tension headache, the most common type of headache, which can range in severity from mild to intense. Tension headaches can also trigger migraines.
Another possible headache trigger is when tense jaw muscles put extra tension on the muscles they work with. This leads to a tension headache, the most common type of headache, which can range in severity from mild to intense. Tension headaches can also trigger migraines.
If you are experiencing chronic headaches or migraines, and you think they may be caused by TMJ disorder, contact us to schedule a consultation with our team.
How TMJ Treatment Can Help
Neuromuscular dentistry is the study of the jaw and how its dysfunction can impact the rest of the body. Our TMJ dentists and the rest of our dental team have helped many patients experience relief from migraine headaches.
We have not only diagnosed and treated migraine headaches, we have conducted research into the best practices and techniques. We have even trained other dentists in how to conduct this treatment. We begin with a scientific, objective diagnosis of your jaw joint conducted by Dr. Reeves or Dr. Strickland. If we detect TMJ and can link it to your headaches, we will design a custom treatment plan for you.
Depending on the exact condition of your jaw joint and the nature of your headaches, treatment may include recommended lifestyle changes, electric muscle massages to relax your muscles, functional jaw orthopedics that holds your jaw in a more relaxing position, medication, orthodontics, or restorative dental procedures. Read more about neuromuscular treatment options.
Migraine headaches aren’t a mysterious curse. They are a medical condition that can be treated. You don’t have to live with migraine headaches. You also don’t have to wait until they start and rely on pain medication to try to function. Instead, you can reduce their frequency and severity.
If you live in Hilton Head, please call (843) 706-2999 or contact Beyond Exceptional Dentistry today for the assistance of a neuromuscular dentist.
