Headaches Associated With TMD

San Diego, La Jolla and Poway

Severe and recurrent headaches is one of the symptoms of Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD — also abbreviated as TMJ). Many TMD sufferers consider them the most painful and debilitating of the symptoms, and some describe them as "migraines".

Migraines are also severe and recurrent headaches. Their causes are not well understood or established, but they are not caused by the jaw joint being out of alignment. Migraine causes are known as triggers, and differ from person to person. Examples of triggers are:

  • Hormonal changes such as happen at menstruation
  • Certain foods such as alcohol, chocolate, fermented foods and caffeine
  • A change from stress to relaxation
  • Bright lights and sunshine
  • Some aromas, both pleasant and unpleasant
  • Disruption of sleep habits
  • Environmental changes such as weather and seasonal shifts or altitude change
  • Some medications

Causes of TMD Headaches

Jaw joint misalignment is the cause of TMD headaches. So what causes jaw joint misalignment? This is not understood much better than migraine causes, although some contributing causes are clear:

  • Chronic tooth grinding
  • An impact to the side of the head which knocks the joint out of position
  • Misaligned teeth
  • Inherited jaw structure

Whatever causes the jaw joint misalignment, once it is a reality, an array of symptoms will appear.

What is a Misaligned Jaw Joint?

The jaw joint is a ball-and-socket joint, with the ball being on the lower jaw (mandible), and the socket in the skull. The lower jaw moves in that socket with a cartilage pad cushioning it, to prevent bone-on-bone contact, which would be painful. There is a correct position for the lower jaw to fit into that socket, and any other position is a misalignment.

Of all the body’s joints, the jaw joint is the most delicate and the most versatile. Whereas elbows and knees, for example, can move in two directions, the jaw can move in three:

  • Up and down
  • Forward and back
  • Sideways

The lower jaw is moved by its attached muscles We move the lower jaw countless times each day, for biting, chewing, talking, yawning, laughing, etc. If the ball is not correctly placed in the socket, and we move it incorrectly so many times, day after day and year after year, inflammation builds up in the jaw muscles. This compresses the nearby nerve branches, which then carry a pain message to the brain.

Several large nerves run through the head, face, neck and shoulder areas. Depending on which branch of which nerve is being compressed, you may feel pain in any of those areas.

TMD Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosis involves measuring and recording jaw muscle activity and jaw joint sounds, and then relaxing the jaw muscles. The relaxed position is recorded and measured also, and the treatment goal is to make it permanent. Please see our TMJ page for more information.

We will be glad to schedule a complimentary consultation for you if you call or email us. Our office serves San Diego, La Jolla, and Poway, California. We hope to work with you soon.

 

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