Dental headaches
Dental headaches are caused by what is known as "referred" pain. Even though the cause of your pain may be your teeth, you might actually experience the pain as something like a tension or a stress headache. Stress headaches can feel like a tight band around your head that gets worse and worse. Because many focus on just the local area of the pain, the actual cause of the pain can be overlooked. Usually, people experience dental headaches because they have a tooth infection caused by decay, TMJ disorder, or because they grind their teeth. How would you know if you are experiencing any one of these dental issues?Tooth decay and infection
You may have a tooth infection and not even be aware of it. Some signs to look for are:- Sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures
- Tenderness or swelling
- Discomfort when biting or chewing
- Fever
TMJ disorder
TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorder is caused by a malocclusion or misalignment of the jaw (bite). It's been estimated that nearly 20 million Americans suffer from TMJ related headaches. TMJ headaches often go undiagnosed because they are often misidentified as stress headaches. Headaches caused by TMJ disorder might be felt on one or both sides of the temple area and cause pain in the jaw, neck, and shoulders. TMJ related headaches affect women (8 to1) more than men and they usually begin between the ages of 20 to 50. Along with headaches, other symptoms that indicate you might have TMJ disorder are:- Pains in the neck, cheeks or jaw
- Clicking or popping sounds from the jaw
- Having trouble chewing or swallowing
- Being unable to fully open up the mouth
Tooth grinding
Many people unconsciously clench or grind their teeth, usually while they sleep. Your jaw muscles tighten when you grind or clench your teeth and the pain from your jaw travels to other places causing headaches or, in severe cases, migraines. How can you know if you grind your teeth at night? Here are some things to look for:- Waking up your bed partner because of the noise caused by grinding your teeth
- Teeth that are getting chipped, fractured, or loosening
- Tooth enamel that is being quickly worn down
- Increased tooth sensitivity
Finding the cause is the cure
The only way to arrive at an effective cure for headaches is to be able to correctly identify the cause. Talking with your Tacoma dentist about your headaches and their possible cause may help you find the answer to your headache pain you've been looking for. Schedule an AppointmentThe content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions. Re-posted with permission. Source.