IS MY HEADACHE A SIGN OF AN ORAL HEALTH PROBLEM?

For someone who suffers frequent headaches, not only may it put a strain on everyday life but it can also be extremely frustrating when the causes of these headaches are unknown. What many people don’t know is that in many cases a headache may be due to your oral health. If you have been experiencing headaches on a regular basis and are not sure as to what the cause may be, contact our Las Vegas practice at (702) 445-7075 to schedule an appointment with a dentist.

According to the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain, one out of eight Americans suffer from recurring headaches that are so debilitating that they interfere with normal life. Though something as simple as a cavity or infection of a tooth can be cause for a headache, 80% of headaches are related to muscle tension, and in many instances are directly correlated with your bite.

These are some of the most common oral conditions that may be the cause of your headache:

• Bruxism – Also known as teeth grinding, bruxism is something that may be occurring without your knowledge. When you grind your teeth for hours throughout the night, you are overworking your jaw muscles and jaw joint, causing you to wake up with a headache.

• TMJ/TMD – Temporomandibular Joint Disorder occurs as a result of problems having to do with the mechanism of the jaw and the surrounding muscles. In most cases, the joint of the jaw has sustained some form of injury in a person’s life. In addition to headaches, you may notice a variety of other symptoms such as clicking or popping of the jaw.

• Wisdom Teeth – When wisdom teeth start to come in, or become impacted it can lead to a number of oral health issues. If not removed they often lead to jaw pain and frequent headaches.

If you have been experiencing frequent headaches and are unsure what the reason may be, contact Drs. Chin   Dentistry at (702) 445-7075 to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced Las Vegas TMJ dentists today!