If you’re someone that gets a persistent headache and haven’t figured out the cause, look into what’s going on in your mouth. Dental conditions like TMJ, cavities, and other oral infections could be the cause. Here are the signs to look out for the next time a headache comes along. 

Headaches and Oral Health

Persistent headaches that don’t go away often are the result of an underlying issue. If you haven’t been able to get to the bottom of your headache, your dentist could help you. Medical News Today suggests many headache sufferers could be getting headaches due to their intraoral structures. They explain that pain centered in the nerves and muscles running throughout the face and neck can trap a person in a painful loop, with the head pain triggering jaw pain and vice versa, jaw pain triggering headaches. If you unknowingly grind your teeth at night or clench your teeth down when you’re stressed or anxious, you could be injuring your jaw joints without even realizing it. Due to this, you could have headaches. Additionally, other dental conditions like jaw problems, cavities, gum disease, or more could also be the source of your headaches.

Teeth Grinding and Headaches 

Most people who grind their teeth at night don’t know they’re doing it until they wake up with a sore jaw or begin getting pesky headaches that won’t go away. A full list of teeth grinding symptoms are: 

• Facial pain
• Headaches
• Earache
• Pain and stiffness in the jaw joints 
• Disrupted sleep (for you or your partner) 
• Worn-down teeth
• Tooth sensitivity 
• Broken teeth

All of these complications that can occur due to grinding your teeth can all be prevented with the help of a mouth or night guard. 

Guard Your Teeth

Here at Mountain Aire Dentistry, we want to help you find relief from your pain. If you are grinding your teeth and suffering from headaches, getting a custom-fit guard for your teeth could help your problems. Teeth grinding is often a sign that you’re feeling stressed or anxious, but it can also be caused due to misaligned teeth, irritation, or even allergies. Even if you’re doing it while you’re asleep, it’s not a harmless act. Grinding your teeth should be addressed by a dentist, which is where we can help! 

Dr. Bockrath will examine your mouth and look for signs of teeth grinding. If needed, he will recommend a night guard to help prevent further oral injuries, headaches, jaw sensitivity, tooth loss, or TMJ disorders. Further, a night guard can prevent further oral injuries and help your current symptoms. 

While there are mouthguard options at the store, they aren’t made to fit exactly to the shape of your mouth. Getting a custom-made mouthguard means that it won’t move around while you sleep, which means you get optimal protection and help for your symptoms. 

Managing Stress

Another way to help reduce jaw pain and headaches due to teeth grinding is to better manage your stress and anxiety if that’s the cause. Stress, anxiety, and other problems can cause your teeth grinding problem to be worse. To not let stress get the best of your teeth, be sure you’re taking good care of your mouth. When stressed, we tend to resort to unhealthy eating habits, which can increase our risk for tooth decay and gum disease. If you’re stressed, remember to remind yourself to unclench your jaw and relax your mouth. To best take care of your mouth, be sure you’re brushing twice a day, flossing every day, using a mouth rinse at least once a day, and seeing your dentist regularly for checkups. 

The American Psychological Association reports most Americans are suffering from moderate-to-high stress, with 44% of people reporting their stress levels have increased over the last 5 years. Concerns about money, work, and the economy are the most common causes of stress. 

To better manage your stress, try these tips:

• Learn relaxation techniques, like meditation or yoga for stress management
• Exercise for at least 30 minutes a day to reduce stress 
• Eat healthy, well-balanced meals 
• Learn to manage your time better
• Set limits and learn how to say no when needed
• Make more time for hobbies that make you happy 
• Get enough rest and sleep 
• Don’t rely on alcohol or drugs
• Seek out social support from a therapist or loved ones 

Make an appointment with Mountain Aire Dentistry Today

If you’re not sure what is causing your headaches and think it could be your teeth grinding, come see Dr. Bockrath with Mountain Aire Dentistry. He will examine your mouth and look for signs of jaw or other oral health problems to see if that could be the source of your head pain. Call now: (303)-731-7755.