Does TMJ Treatment Help in Migraine?

You might not believe your jaw could be the cause, if you have headache, but the TMJ, or temporomandibular joints, might be to blame.

The TMJ is the hinge that connects your skull's jaw. It allows you to talk, laugh, chew and move your body side by side. It enables you to go up and down.

This joint is a more complex than other joints of the body due to hinges and sliding motions and may cause several symptoms if something goes wrong, even headaches. Since TMJ is the reason, you need to work on TMJ treatment for healing.

TMJ Headache Causes

Although it is not clear what causes a TMD, it can be just as simple as constant grinding of teeth. TMJ pain in 1 out of 10 individuals has been reported, and TMD in almost half of the United States population.

It is impossible to distinguish between general headaches and TMJ headaches because there is no specific statistics on TMJ headaches.

The TMJ's muscle is running along the jaw and cheeks and can occasionally cause pain — even headaches. When your jaw is tensed as when your teeth are grinding it can spread your pain along with the cheeks and on your sides and tops into other TMJ muscles, which will cause headaches.

The Symptoms

A lot of headaches are present, but typically TMJ headaches with other symptoms happen. These may contain:

  • Tight muscles of the facial or jaw

  • Pain in face or jaw

  • Clicking sound in jaw

  • Limited jaw movement

Connection between Migraine and TMJ Pain

It has been found that migraine is much more likely to occur in people who have teeth grinding or clenching habit. Research suggests for the trigeminal nerve has a significant role in the migraine pain. The trigeminal nerve sends signals to the blood vessels and the brain lining, leading to cortical propagation and chemical release, which leads to pain.

The TMJ, teeth, jaw, and sinuses that are then connected to nerves on your upper neck work similarly with your trigeminal nerve. Problems of the neck and jaw are a common cause for migraine attacks.

Treatment of TMJ

Neuromuscular dentistry differs and can solve the worst headache problems associated with TMJ, nerve, muscle and joint diseases. If you think you experience TMJ disorder, visit a TMJ dentist. This type of dentist knows that another body part is probably suffering from pain and discomfort if your jaw does not work correctly. Your neuromuscular dentist will monitor all of your health history and carry out various tests to find out the exact underlying reason why your headaches are caused.

See us here at Comprehensive Family Dentistry for TMJ treatment. For any oral issues, see us here.

**Disclaimer: This content is not a professional dental or medical advice and does not imply a relationship between patient and care provider or the doctors.