Your dentist can help you cure recurring headaches or migraines, dentists can play a role in diagnosing and even treating your condition. That’s because quite often, recurring pain that is felt in the area of the temples on the sides of the head is actually caused by unconscious habits of clenching and/or grinding the teeth. These bad oral habits, which often manifest during sleep, put tremendous pressure on the muscles that work your jaw joint, also called the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).
What are migraines?
What are the causes of headaches- migraines?
- Grinding of the teeth
- Clenching and Clamping of the teeth
- Chewing hard substances.
- Food.
- Some medications.
- Hormonal changes in women.
- Environmental factors.
- Sleep pattern
- stress.
What are the Symptoms of migraines-headaches?
- Constipation.
- Mood changes, from depression to euphoria.
- Food cravings,
- Neck stiffness.
- Increased thirst and urination.
- Frequent yawning.
What are the risk factors?
- Family history.
- Age.
- Sex.
- Hormonal changes.
How can you be Relief from headaches or migraines
- For more information on nightguard, See, Best mouthguards for teeth grinding and snoring
How Are Migraine Headaches Treated?
- Pain relief. Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs often work well for some people. As with most medications during pregnancy, there is a possibility that your baby could be harmed if you take medicine to treat your headaches. Learn more about the drug that is safe to use during pregnancy
- Nausea medicine. Your doctor can prescribe it if you get nausea with your migraine.
- Preventive medicines. Gentle stretching exercises, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen, and muscle relaxants can also provide relief.
- Biofeedback. This involves identifying the stressful conditions that might trigger it.
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The device its placed at the back of the head. It helps reduces pain and boost energy
Will a nightguard or other TMD therapy relieve your headaches?
When to see your doctor?
- An abrupt, severe headache like a thunderclap.
- A headache with fever, stiff neck, mental confusion, seizures, double vision, weakness, numbness or trouble speaking.
- A headache after a head injury, especially if a headache gets worse.
- A chronic headache that is worse after coughing, exertion, straining or a sudden movement.
- New headache pain if you're older than 50 years of age.
Sources
- National Headache Foundation: "Migraine." Stewart, W. Annals of Neurology, ACCESSED 2019.
- Medical Clinics of North America, ACCESSED 2019.
If you have treated migraines-headaches before. share your record by commenting.
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The content is intended to augment, not replace, information provided by your clinician. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Reading this information does not create or replace a doctor-patient relationship or consultation. If required, please contact your doctor or other health care provider to assist you in interpreting any of this information, or in applying the information to your individual needs.
