Having a TMJ headache can leave you in a lot of pain and has the ability to ruin your day. Unfortunately, patients who suffer from temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) often endure severe headaches (migraines) on a regular basis. The Grand Rapids doctors at TMJ & Sleep Disorders of Michigan, Dr. Jerry Mulder and Dr. Allyson Mulder, have the experience and specialized training necessary to treat TMD and provide relief for these painful headaches.
This page will explore the link between TMJ (temporomandibular joint) , TMD and tensions headaches, which is a complicated topic – even for medical professionals who may misdiagnose what is causing these headaches. While we believe the below information is helpful in explaining headaches caused by TMD, many patients understand this information better following a face-to-face or virtual consultation with one of our doctors. To schedule a consultation at our Grand Rapids office, contact us today.
To answer this question, we first need to understand what TMD is and how it affects the body. TMD occurs when the temporomandibular joint, which connects your jaw to your skull, becomes misaligned or enters a state of dysfunction. When the temporomandibular joint falls into dysfunction, it quickly leads to issues with the jaw joints, soon after affecting the surrounding musculature, nerves, and blood vessels. One of the nerves located close to the temporomandibular joint is the trigeminal nerve, a crucial part of the nervous system that transmits more sensory input to the brain than any other neural pathway in the body.
The functions of the trigeminal nerve include:
When dysfunction develops in the temporomandibular joint, the trigeminal nerve often is impacted because of its proximity to the jaw joints. This sends pain signals to the outer covering of the brain, triggering headaches. The trigeminal nerve also is involved in migraine headaches, which is why many TMD patients who suffer from headaches are misdiagnosed with migraines. Therefore, their migraine treatment does nothing to solve the true source of their problem, only the symptoms.
If you have been diagnosed with migraines or tension headaches, but the medication only treats the severity of the headaches and does nothing to diminish their frequency, then TMD actually could be the cause of your headaches – not migraines.
Unless your TMD is treated, the tension headaches caused by the disorder will continue. At TMJ & Sleep Disorders of Michigan, our doctors can provide relief through a combined approach of different treatments. One of our preferred methods of treatment is the use of a custom-made oral appliance. These devices look and feel similar to a mouth guard, and apply gentle pressure to guide the jaws into their preferred alignment, alleviating the stress on the temporomandibular joint and, with it, the surrounding musculature and nerves. Our doctors also can prescribe medication to manage the pain from the migraine headaches until the TMD treatment begins to yield tangible results.
In some instances, properly aligning the jaws may involve rebuilding the patient’s bite such as replacing missing teeth or repairing severely broken and damaged teeth. For others, orthodontic treatment may be necessary to align the teeth properly. Treatment is based on your specific needs for TMD treatment.
Are TMJ headaches dangerous? TMJ is considered a non life-threatening disorder. However, TMJ can impact your eating habits, mood, posture, sleeping patterns and oxygen intake at night. If TMJ is left untreated, it can reduce your quality of life (QOL) over time.
Can TMJ cause headaches? Some symptoms of TMJ include a clenching jaw and the grinding and clenching of teeth. In turn, the grinding and clenching create pain from the muscles in the head which result in a headache. This can be quite severe and are often improperly diagnosed as simple migraine headaches. For a more complete list of TMJ symptoms, be sure to read 17 Common Symptoms of TMJ.
Can TMJ cause severe headache pain? Yes, TMJ can cause severe or excruciating pain in the form of migraines or tensions headaches. These will often occur on one side of the head.
How long can a TMJ headache last? TMJ headaches, also referred to as flare-ups, can last a few hours or several days depending on the severity of the TMJ and the individual.
How do you get rid of TMJ headaches? For a permanent solution to TMJ headaches, you must treat the source of the headache and not just deal with the symptoms of TMJ. We recommend consulting a doctor, like a neuromuscular dentist, who is trained specifically in resolving TMD and TMJ issues. For temporarily relief, we recommend reducing your stress level with relaxation exercises, not eating hard candy, nutrition therapy, proper water intake, sleep and massaging of the jaw. Temporary relief is useful but it’s not a fix for eliminating TMJ headaches permanently.
Is a TMJ headache serious? TMJ is considered a non life-threatening disorder. However, it can cause arthritis in the jaw and can cause your jaw to lock while eating. In rare cases, this can cause choking which can lead to death.
What causes a TMJ flare-up? A flareup is often caused by chewing hard foods, hormone levels, posture, stress or anxiety, dehydration, and vitamin deficiencies. It is not uncommon for a small flare-up to impact your mood and how you are able to function throughout your day.
What does a TMJ headache pain feel like? Normally, a tension headache or TMJ migraine will feel like a soft, tight aching pain that is located on one side of the head. Usually, the headache will be more intense on the same side of the head that the TMJ is worse off. More severe or painful cases can also be experienced by some.
Why does a TMJ headache occur? A TMJ headache can occur from issues related to joint hypermobility, osteoporosis, or osteoarthritis. A typical TMJ headache can occur when you grind your teeth. The teeth grinding causes your jaw muscles to tighten up . Once this occurs, pain can spread along your cheeks, side of your face and the top of your head resulting in pain and tension. As you can see, this is why a TMJ headache can also be known as a jaw tension headache.
Common ailments of patients suffering from TMJ headaches include:
No one should live with chronic pain. If you have been suffering from severe headaches, relief is within your reach. Contact our office today at (616) 929-0892 to schedule a consultation.
TMJ & Sleep Disorders of Michigan is here to serve patients in the areas of Grand Rapids, Holland, and Big Rapids, Michigan.
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