Headaches are one of those things that happen to everyone, and we often don’t think to wonder why. Like all aches and pains, headaches have reasons behind them, such as overactive muscles and nerves, or restricted oxygen intake. Even more surprising, many patients can experience chronic, increasingly word headaches that are directly related to their dental health – particularly, their jaw joints (or TMJs). Today, we examine the role that your TMJs often play in chronic headaches, and how your dentist can help you find relief by treating your specific TMJ disorder.
What TMJ Disorder Means for You
Temporomandibular joints, or TMJs, are the two joints located near your temporal lobes. They allow your lower jaw, or mandible, to open and close when you bite and chew, which makes them the most-used joints in your body. To function properly, both of your TMJs have to be aligned properly so they can move simultaneously. Otherwise, one or both jaws will be subject to excessive, uneven pressure and the need to adjust every time your bite works. This can lead to a host of discomforts, such as jaw pain and soreness as well as chronic headaches and migraines.
Headaches and More
The reason TMJ disorder results in a variety of symptoms is because it aggravates the nearby trigeminal nerves – the dominant nerve group in your body. Pressure and discomfort from TMJ disorder can spread along the three branches of this nerve group, leading to many conditions that result in chronic headaches. By treating TMJ disorder with a custom-designed appliance, you can relieve the pressure on the joints, and therefore on your trigeminal nerve, to alleviate your headaches and any other symptoms caused by the dysfunction.
Find a Cure for Your TMJ Headaches
Chronic headaches may just be one of many different symptoms of your TMJ disorder. To find a cure for them all, schedule an appointment by calling Lathrop Dental Center in Katy, TX at 832-437-3849. We proudly welcome patients and families from Katy, Fulshear, Weston Lakes, Simonton, Richmond, Rosenberg, Brookshire, Wallis, Orchard, Cypress, Sealy, Columbus, and all surrounding communities.
