When asked, “Can a dentist treat frequent or migraine headaches?” In some cases, the answer is Yes. The agonizing pain of migraine headaches can cause incredible discomfort and can even be debilitating when they occur. While you may not think of a trip to the dentist when contemplating your headache diagnosis or treatment options, for some typed of headaches, a trip to your dentist may be exactly what you need.
Migraine and Frequent Headaches – Causes?
Headaches can be caused by a number of issues. Some headaches have simple causes such as loud noises, eye strain, poor posture, stress and certain foods or medications. Some causes may be more serious and complex such as concussions, dehydration, ear infections or illness.
What many don’t realize is that migraine and frequent headaches are commonly caused by dental and oral health conditions. Some conditions that may lead to chronic headaches include clenching or grinding your teeth, imbalance of your bite or temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ or TMD).
Our lower jaw is connected in two areas to the base of our skull. These areas are known as the temporomandibular joints. The movements in these joints allow us to chew, speak and even yawn. Pain that begins in these joints, or the muscles surrounding them, can easily transfer to other areas around the skull and can trigger migraines. Therefore, overworking these muscles and joints can lead to destructive changes in the joint space, muscle tension and resulting headaches.
Signs of migraine headaches caused by TMJ.
When Should I See a Doctor or Dentist?
Because headaches are common and typically nothing to worry about, you may be tempted to skip the doctor and treat the pain at home. This may be an effective method for minor, temporary and occasional headaches. However, if your headaches are frequent and unmanageable, or if they are related to a dental condition, the sooner you contact your dentist to address the cause, the sooner your pain will be over.
Call your dentist if your headaches are severe and frequent, don’t respond to home remedies, or interfere with your daily life.
Dental Treatment Options
Depending on a clinical examination and diagnosis, treatment for clenching and grinding may be as simple as a NTI-tss night guard. At Advanced Dental Concepts, Dr. Danny Hayes and Dr. Christine Mousa recommend non-invasive solutions whenever possible. By using the non-invasive, NTI-tss night guard, most patients will experience a vast improvement in the frequency and intensity of headaches. For more complex dental causes, orthodontics or restorative work to replace missing teeth may be necessary.
If you experience frequent headaches, migraines, soreness in your facial muscles, clicking or popping in your jaw, it is important that you seek dental help. At Advanced Dental Concepts, we are always welcoming new patients and would be happy to assist you. As a Portage, IN migraine dentist office, our goal is to provide comprehensive care and deliver solutions that can improve your quality of life. Contact us today.