TMJ Disorder and Headaches: The Connection
Your TMJ (temporomandibular joint) is the joint on both sides of your head that attaches your jaw to the upper part of your skull. This joint is almost constantly in motion, and it’s situated right in the middle of a complex hub of muscle fibers, ligaments, and major nerves. When something goes wrong with your TMJ, the discomfort can radiate out to almost any part of your head and cause discomfort in the form of eye pain, earaches, toothaches, neck pain, jaw pain, headaches, and even migraines.
TMJ disorder, also abbreviated TMD, is a term that applies to any dysfunction of your jaw joint, which may or may not cause jaw pain. This means you could have a TMJ issue and not even realize it. The pain you feel in your head might be due to an undetected imbalance in your bite.
Besides headaches and migraines that are otherwise unexplained, there are some other signs that you could be suffering from TMJ:
- An uneven bite or the sense that your teeth don’t fit together
- Pain when you chew, yawn, or move your jaw
- A clicking or popping sound when you open your mouth
- A habit of clenching or grinding your teeth
- Ringing in your ears
- Difficulty chewing
- Tingling in your fingers
- Tooth sensitivity
- Shoulder pain
- Occasional inability to fully close your teeth together or to fully open
TMJ and Migraines
Migraines are still considered a mysterious neurological condition. It’s unlike any other headache you could get. A migraine is not caused by the constriction or enlargement of blood vessels and nerves around your head. Instead, it’s triggered by other things such as food intolerances, flashing lights, alcohol, caffeine, smoking, loud noises, and environmental changes..the list goes on.
Even though researchers and doctors are still researching migraines, many people have found migraine relief through TMJ disorder treatment. The running theory is that the trigeminal cranial nerve overreacts to stimuli causing excess activity that triggers migraines. Since that nerve runs right through your jaw joint, any inflammation in the joint could pinch and pull at the nerve causing it to overreact.
The presence of migraines does not necessarily mean that you have TMJ disorder. But if you experience some of the other TMJ symptoms or have tried everything else, schedule an appointment with Dr. Lim. He’ll take a look at your jaw to determine if it could be the cause of your migraines. If it seems like a likely cause, your TMJ treatment will double as a migraine treatment.
A Trusted Owasso Dentist for Headache Treatment
“Having had TMJ treatment with Dr. Lim, my lockjaw and headaches are now non-existent! Dr. Lim’s work is amazing!” – Michelle Richey
“Dr. Lim provided me with excellent orthodontic care, which helped to realign my TMJ. I have fewer headaches as a result. I highly recommend Life Smiles of Owasso.” – Jason Garrett
“After treatment with Dr. Lim, I felt so much better. I had been having headaches for a long time, and now I no longer have headaches.” – Sandi Sutcliff
Dr. Lim has received advanced training in TMJ therapy through the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies, where he was awarded a fellowship. His reputation has spread to where he has patients visiting him from around the country for headaches associated with TMJ disorder.
He has many years of experience treating TMJ pain using non-medicated and non-invasive techniques. As a whole-health dentist, he takes a comprehensive and patient-focused approach to TMJ treatment by looking for ways to recalibrate the bite without surgery or unnecessary medication.
When you visit Dr. Lim for help with treating your headaches, he will start by taking diagnostic scans of your TMJ and carefully evaluating your bite. He will let you know if harmonizing your bite could help you get relief from headaches and migraines
Treat Your Headaches and Migraines in Owasso
Are you ready to break free from the aggravation of frequent headaches? Relief is on the horizon because Dr. Lim and the rest of our team here at Life Smiles of Owasso are ready to help you. Call (918) 274-3779 or make an appointment online.
