How Dental Problems Cause headaches
There are a number of types of dental problems that could potentially be causing your headaches, including
? Tooth problems such as an impacted or infected tooth
? Jaw problems, such as TMJ
? Sleep apnea
If your headache is due to any of these causes, a dentist may be able to get you relief.
Tooth Problems and Headaches
If you have an infected or impacted tooth, it could lead to chronic headaches. Pain from your tooth could be transferred to elsewhere in your face and head. Also, tooth problems can lead to swelling in the sinuses, which can cause a headache. And tension from tooth pain could contribute to a tension headache.
TMJ
TMJ, sometimes called TMD or temporomandibular joint disorder, is when the muscles, bones, and nerves of your jaw joints are not working together well. When this happens, your jaw muscles have to work extra hard and not very smoothly. An overgrown or out of place muscle can irritate nearby nerves and obstruct nearby blood vessels. Facial nerves run right by your jaw joint, and when they become irritated you may experience pain or numbness in the face and head. When blood flow is restricted it can trigger migraines. TMJ headaches can be cured through neuromuscular dentistry.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is when your breathing is interrupted during sleep. In the most common form, your breathing is interrupted because your tissues are literally choking you. This is often the result of a poorly positioned bite, which can be corrected using an oral splint or appliance that you put in your mouth while you sleep to hold your jaw, tongue, throat and other tissues where they need to be to keep your airway open.
So, in short if you have a headache, your dentist should not be your first stop, but it shouldn't be your last, either. If you are a chronic headache sufferer in or around Ottawa, Ontario, visit the website of Dentistry at Main for more information.