At first, it might seem a huge leap to conclude that a misaligned or injured jaw joint could cause headaches. But the association between our nerves, muscles and joints often cause problems in seemingly unrelated areas of our bodies. Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) cause stress and stress can cause TMD. Jaw clenching, teeth grinding, a variety of teeth problems, and many other treatable conditions can lead to localized pain in the jaw or pain radiated to facial muscles. When your body experiences pain, muscles contract, nerves may be pinched and blood flow is reduced.
As TMD symptoms persist, adjacent muscles and nerves can be affected, and tension can increase over time spreading to your head, neck, shoulder, arm and back muscles. Eventually, the increased tension can cause severe headaches, often described as migraines.
Standard medical treatment for migraines does not correct TMD, and so, will not cure these headaches. Most patients do not realize that it could be a dental problem, so they may not question the cause of their headaches further.
The neuromuscular dentists at Galleria Dental Aesthetics are committed to helping patients return to a pain-free life by providing the highest standards of dental and oral health care. Dr. Lee and Dr. Oh are making a special effort to inform people about the treatments available for TMJ headaches and other painful symptoms often mistaken for other conditions.
If you would like information about TMJ migraines from the dentists voted “top dentists” and “best dentists” by a number of councils, magazines, and peers, please contact Alexandria and Tysons Corner neuromuscular dentists, serving patients around northern Virginia, for a personal evaluation.
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