Posted: February 26, 2021
Headaches can be linked to everything from stress to certain medications and even strenuous exercise. But there’s another common culprit that you might not suspect: jaw joint misalignment. When something’s amiss with your temporomandibular joint (TMJ), you’re likely to experience a variety of painful and chronic symptoms, including headaches.
So how do you tell if your headaches are related to a TMJ disorder or something else? It’s best to visit an experienced neuromuscular dentist like Dr. John Schmid for a diagnostic exam. In the meantime, here are four signs that may indicate you have TMJ headaches:
Your headaches happen after jaw activity. Pay attention to the timing of your headaches. Do they hit you after eating tough foods, biting your fingernails, chewing gum, or doing other activities that make your jaw work harder than usual? If so, it could be a clue that you have TMJ.
- Your teeth show signs of wear or clenching. Bruxism, or teeth grinding, tends to go hand in hand with TMJ disorders. You may suffer from bruxism if your teeth look worn down. Or you may notice that you clench your jaw during stressful situations or focused work. These jaw activities are often associated with TMJ-related headaches.
- Conventional headache treatments aren’t working. You may feel like you’ve tried everything to relieve your headaches. Unfortunately, determining the cause of headaches is often a process of elimination. If you aren’t seeing results from your current treatments, it could be time to see if you have TMJ.
- You have other TMJ symptoms. Clicking in your jaw, trouble opening your mouth, ringing in your ears, and unexplained pain in your upper body are all symptoms of a TMJ disorder. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms alongside your headaches, then it’s likely that TMJ is to blame.
Find Relief from TMJ Headaches in Austin
Dr. John Schmid has advanced training in the diagnosis and treatment of TMJ. He has completed the full curriculum at the prestigious Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies (LVI). He attends LVI continuing education courses to improve his ability to provide patients with functional and beautiful smiles.
If you suspect that your headaches may be linked to TMJ, call 512-329-5967 today to schedule an appointment. Contemporary Cosmetic Dentistry serves Austin, Bee Cave, Lakeway, and nearby areas of Texas.
