Treating Headaches

Many times, medications might be required to help combat headaches and migraines. However, temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) might actually be the reason for your headaches. When TMD plays a role in headaches, medications may not be working as well as they should—if at all. To help relieve headache pain caused by TMD, a proper treatment plan will need to be created.

Eliminating risk factors of headaches

Headaches and TMD directly relate to each other and greatly increase the risk for episodic migraine and tension-type headaches—this is especially true for chronic migraines. For this reason, a close interaction between neurologists and dentists is strongly recommended when evaluating and managing patients suffering from facial pain and primary headaches.

To alleviate the causal factors of headaches, it is important to reduce the number of risk factors present, including:

  • Quitting smoking
  • Drinking less or eliminating alcohol use
  • Losing weight accompanied with increased exercise

  • Avoiding glutens, dairy and sugars
  • Supporting your bite
  • Improving sleep habits
  • Improving posture at a desk, in a car or other long-held positions

Treating Headache

By eliminating or decreasing these risk factors, you can take the next steps toward improved health and reduced pain.

DID YOU KNOW?

Recent research emphasizes the multifaceted nature of headaches, and medical professionals increasingly explore a combination of traditional and alternative therapies to address individual patient needs. Integrative strategies, encompassing lifestyle adjustments, stress management, and complementary therapies like acupuncture or biofeedback, are gaining prominence alongside pharmaceutical interventions. This shift towards a comprehensive and patient-centric approach reflects the dynamic nature of headache treatment in contemporary healthcare.

What are treatments for headaches?

The first step in treatment is to determine what type of headache you are suffering from. If you are suffering from migraines, there might be preventive or abortive treatment options. This means avoiding the occurrence of a migraine by learning your triggers. Another treatment option for headaches is preventive, which means taking medications to prevent the onset of a headache or migraine.

And if a headache is caused by TMD, the best treatment option might be the use of a custom oral appliance specifically designed for your needs. With the use of an oral appliance, you can find relief from pain by providing proper jaw alignment and also controlling any forces placed on your joints during sleep.

Whether your headache is TMD-related or caused by other factors, it is important to seek treatment to combat pain and discomfort. For more information on headache treatments available in Atlanta contact us at Craniofacial Pain & Dental Sleep Center of Georgia.

Call us today at 678-899-6076

To schedule an evaluation and find a treatment option to help relieve your pain