Tension Headaches & TMJ Therapy

Tension headaches and TMD can occur due to habits like grinding your teeth when you are asleep or clenching in stressful situations. Whenever you clench your teeth, the muscular systems of the jaw, which are some of the strongest muscles in your body, are activated. Clenching makes these muscles 6 to 20 times more active than at rest, and the increased tension that occurs when you clench your teeth can result in headaches (which can also trigger migraines in chronic sufferers), pain in the jaws, and damage to the surrounding muscles and teeth.

Why you need to stop clenching your teeth

Clenching your teeth can bring on a host of problems, including damage to the jaw joints, excessive and premature tooth wear, tooth sensitivity, and tooth fracture. To stop clenching teeth at night, our dental experts can fabricate a custom oral appliance that is designed to curb the cascade of muscular activity leading to clenching when you sleep. In many patients, once the cycle is broken, the appliance may not need to be worn any longer. With proper treatment, habits such as clenching your teeth can be resolved and completely disappear. If you suspect you are having tension headaches or TMD, please talk to our family dentists about what we can do for you.

What is TMD?

The Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the hinge that holds together your upper and lower jaws, allowing normal function, eating, and talking. It is one of the most active joints in your entire body, and its integrity is vital for everyday functions. A TMJ disorder can significantly undermine a person’s quality of life and well-being.

Common signs of TMJ disorder:

• Constant headaches and/or migraines
• A clicking, popping or locking sound in the jaws
• Tinnitus (ringing of the ears)
• Jaw pain
• Muscle pain, facial pain, sinus pain and stiffness
• Spontaneous tooth pain not related to tooth decay or other pathologies
• Pain in the temples
• Severe tooth wear
• Snoring and dizziness