Did you know your bite can directly relate to your headache? It can! Nearly everyone on occasion experiences a throbbing headache that interferes with concentration at work or school, or it completely takes away your energy for the day. While many people associate headaches with stress, sometimes the source of that headache can be surprising.
Sometimes the bite and the lower jaw are out of alignment, putting additional strain on muscles, which leads to the headaches. And for many, TMJ headaches aren’t going away because people try to mask the pain with medication rather than correcting the underlying cause. Here are some of the warning signs that might show you your headache is caused by TMD:
Your Jaw Clicks or Pops
Any joint in your body should work silently and seamlessly. If your jaw clicks or pops when you open or close it, it’s a clear sign that he lower half of the joint is not in the proper position. Even if the popping and clicking don’t produce pain, the muscles that have to support and stabilize the joint become fatigued. As a result, the joint produces pain.
Your Bite Feels Off
The TMJ is the only joint in the human body that has 28 teeth stuck between the opening and closing motion of the joint to complicate things. Every other joint is completely controlled by muscles, and the position of the joint, its movement and range of motion are mediated by muscle.
You Have Pain Around Your Forehead, Temples and Back of Head
If you have pain around your forehead, temples, back of head or radiating down your neck, this could be caused from TMD. About 90% of pain comes from muscle and if your muscles are not functioning well because of fatigue from supporting one of both of your TMJs in an improper position, they produce pain. This is much like when you exercise or work hard and feel muscle pain later. However, the main difference is that TMD is more subtle and chronic.
You Have Forward Head Posture
Our heads are supposed to be centered over our shoulders. However, if yours is in front of your shoulders when you are upright, you have “forward head posture.” This relates to your bite and your airway. The human head weighs about eight to 10 pounds, and the farther forward it is off the center axis, the more strain it places on the neck muscles and vertebrae.
If you are experiencing any of these bite problems, it is important to visit Craniofacial Pain & Dental Sleep Center of Georgia for further diagnosis and treatment options. Don’t just put up with headaches and jaw pain, seek treatment now!
