Why Do I Always Have Headaches?
TMD (oftentimes called TMJ) refers to a disorder of the temporomandibular joint, which is what connects your jaw to your skull and is imperative for opening and closing your jaw, along with chewing. Anytime your temporomandibular joint is misaligned, you may experience a myriad of symptoms, including chronic headaches.
Why Does My Jaw Cause Headaches?
Your jaw may become out of line for several reasons including stress, teeth-grinding, trauma, or a tooth that is out of line. If you have a tooth that is causing a high spot in your bite, or if any of these other causes send your jaw out of line, all of the muscles in the area have to start joining in to keep your jaw functioning. Your jaw muscles will become fatigued, so they will enlist the help of your skull muscles and even your neck and upper back muscles. As all of these muscles work harder than they have to in order to keep your jaw functioning, they will also fatigue, causing the following symptoms:
- Jaw pain
- Popping, clicking, or scraping when you open and close your mouth
- Difficulty opening and closing your mouth
- Difficulty or pain while chewing
- Neck pain
- Sinus problems
- Ear pain
- Upper back pain
- Chronic headaches
How Can Our Woburn and Winchester TMJ Dentist Help?
In order to remedy your headaches and other symptoms, you need to visit Divine Smiles in Woburn and Winchester, Massachusetts. Our dentist will utilize the best-available technology to completely relax your jaw, thereby determining your jaw’s natural position. Then, utilizing relaxing technology, massage, and possibly a night-time mouth guard, we can help you to keep your jaw in that position so you experience relief. Don’t hesitate to call us today at (781) 396-8558.
By Ryan M. Clancy, DMD, MAGD, LVIF, FPFA, FIAPA | August 30th, 2022 | TMJ
