Could Your Dentist Provide Headache Relief?

Countless Americans suffer from migraines and tension headaches on a daily basis. This can be frustrating and even debilitating for some. While headaches have numerous causes, it may be that your tension headache is related to your dental health.

Headaches and Stress

There is an undeniable link between headaches and stress. Unfortunately, stress can cause jaw tension, especially in the muscles of the TMJ (temporomandibular joint). This is evident in those who tend to clench their jaw or grind their teeth during times of stress. Some people may even do it subconsciously or while they sleep.

TMJ disorders are a leading cause of tension headaches. Patients may experience a dull or throbbing pain on one or both sides of the head. To gain better insight as to whether your jaw problems are causing your headaches, check yourself for the following symptoms:

• Pain behind the eyes or in the ears
• Sore jaw muscles, especially in the morning
• Grinding or clenching your teeth
• Jaw clicking or popping

The good news is that your dentist can help. You may finally be able to throw away the aspirin bottles and find effective headache relief by letting your dentist correct your TMJ problems. This may be in the form of realigning a poor bite or wearing a custom appliance to prevent teeth grinding during the night. At Salt Run Dentistry, we proudly provide excellence when it comes to treating TMJ disorders, or TMD.