Tuesday, December 26, 2023

The Connection Between Teeth Grinding and Migraine Pain

 A Migraine headache generally causes pain on the one side or on the top of your head, but the problem may actually start at the base of your skull, at the top of your neckline.  Teeth grinding, or TMJ, could be the culprit!   

TMJ, or your temporomandibular joint, is the joint that connects your skull to your jawbone.  It is the reason you are able to chew food, yawn (without your mouth sticking open) and even talk.  When the muscles surrounding it tighten from constant teeth clenching or grinding, it can cause a variety of painful problems. Among those, headaches, tooth pain from the constant compression, jaw pain and pain that radiates into the shoulder.  If you are prone to migraine, teeth grinding can trigger it.  

If you think this may be causing or triggering your migraine headaches, see an Oral/Maxiofacial Surgeon to get a diagnosis.  There are treatments available.  

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