TMJ and Headaches: What’s the Connection?

Houston, The Woodlands, Kingwood, Spring, and Conroe, Texas

The temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, is the hinge joint that connects your mandible, or lower jaw, to the skull. Under normal conditions, the joint moves freely up and down, and side to side, as you talk, chew, or yawn. But if the free movement of the TMJ is compromised because the jaw is badly aligned, the hinge may not work properly. And since one of the largest nerve clusters in the body is located at the TMJ, this means pain: pain in the jaw, neck, or face, and headaches.

At Woodlands Premier Dentistry, trained neuromuscular dentist Dr. Scott Young will help you identify jaw alignment problems that lead to TMJ-related pain and headaches. Dr. Young will recommend simple techniques for self-care at home, and will provide professional treatment options for improving your jaw alignment and relieving your pain.

TMJ-related Pain

Problems with the TMJ may result from

  • Trauma to the jaw -- jaw injury or whiplash
  • Bite problems (malocclusion) or other dental issues that contribute to jaw misalignment
  • Chronic muscle tension, causing clenching or grinding of the teeth

The proper name for the pain, stiffness and other symptoms related to the TMJ is temporomandibular disorder, or TMD. New research suggests that many TMD symptoms originate in the muscles attached to the TMJ that move the jaw. For that reason, some dentists prefer the term “myofascial pain dysfunction.” In many cases psychological stress, leading to constant tightening of the jaw muscles, causes the muscles to spasm and pull the TMJ out of proper alignment.

Treatment Options

Many non-invasive treatment approaches can provide relief for TMJ-related pain and headaches. Your neuromuscular dentist can help you decide which will work best for you.

Self-care options include resting the affected jaw, using warm compresses and/or ice packs, a soft, non-chewy diet, improved posture, and over the counter anti-inflammatory medicines and pain relievers

In-office dental options include orthodontics (custom-made splints or bite plates) to prevent teeth grinding, especially at night; the use of biofeedback therapy and relaxation techniques to alleviate muscle tension; and TENS therapy (low-level electrical current applied to relax the jaw muscle). Your dentist may also recommend specific treatments to correct bite problems.

Other professional options might include physical therapy services like ultrasound, or massage therapy

If you live in Houston or The Woodlands, Texas area and need relief for headaches that might be TMJ-related, please contact the offices of neuromuscular dentist Dr. Scott Young, at Woodlands Premier Dentistry.

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