You might not have thought to link the two, but your chronic headaches could be directly linked to your oral health and can be treated by a dentist, oftentimes without the use of medication. Dr. Michael Stern and his team at Smile Brighter Dentistry in Willoughby Hills, OH have been diagnosing and treating chronic headaches for patients with great success. Dr. Stern utilizes a particular treatment system called the NTI-TSS system, which helps cure patients of chronic headaches caused by jaw clenching. Jaw clenching, though, is not the only dental issue that can be linked to chronic headaches.
Dental Issues and Headaches
There are several causes of chronic headaches that a simple over-the-counter medication cannot help. These issues can only be treated by a dentist. Did you know that if you have something as simple as a cavity or infection of the tooth, this can cause headaches until treated? This scenario is not the most common, but it does occur. A much more common occurrence is chronic tension headaches caused by built-up muscle strain which develops in the mouth and jaw.
A Bad Bite
A common culprit for this form of headache is a bad bite. When the biting surface of your teeth doesn’t properly meet when your jaw is shut, this can cause tension headaches. This is because the muscles must overwork themselves so that you can properly chew food. Even when your jaw is closed, due to the bite not aligning, your jaw continues to work. This can cause overstrain and lead to chronic headaches. A headache caused by issues of the teeth and jaw will normally present itself as a dull pain which you will feel on one of both sides of your head.
Teeth Grinding
Another culprit of chronic tension headaches is teeth grinding. This will normally occur in your sleep but can also be an issue while awake. When you constantly grind your teeth, your jaw muscles can become overworked as can your TMJ (temporomandibular joint). Issues with your TMJ will often present themselves through clicking or popping of the jaw and be the cause of, oftentimes, more severe headaches.
If you believe that one of these problems could be the source of your chronic headaches, please give Dr. Michael Stern a call today at Smile Brighter Dentistry. To schedule an appointment, please call (440) 210-0999 today.