TMJ HEADACHE
When you get a headache, you may not think that your jaw could be the culprit, but the temporomandibular joint or temporomandibular joint could be to blame.
The temporomandibular joint is the hinge that connects the jaw to the skull. It allows you to do things like talk, laugh, and chew, and it allows your jaw to move up and down and from side to side.
Due to the hinge and sliding movements, this joint is a little more complicated than other joints in the body and can cause a variety of symptoms, including headaches, if it fails.These are often referred to as temporomandibular disorders (TMDs).
What causes TMJ headaches?
Although it's not known what causes CMD, it could be as simple as constantly grinding your teeth. TMJ pain has been reported in 1 in 10 people, and TMD has been reported in nearly half of the United States population.
There are no statistics specific to temporomandibular headache, as it can be difficult to distinguish between general headaches and TMJ headaches.The TMJ muscles run along the jaw and cheeks, and sometimes these muscles can cause pain, including headaches. If the jaw muscles tense, e.g. when you grind your teeth, for example, the pain can spread to other temporomandibular joint muscles along the cheeks and sides and head, causing headaches.
TMJ headache can also be due to temporomandibular joint problems associated with osteoarthritis, joint hypermobility, or osteoporosis.
One of the most painful types of headache is the “TMJ migraine headache”. These migraines can cause "auras," which represent the feeling of an imminent migraine, impair vision, cause nausea, sensitivity to light, and severe pain.TMJ headaches and migraines are often associated with a malocclusion (a bad or unbalanced bite), and TMJ treatments can be effective in preventing TMJ migraine headaches from occurring. It is now commonly understood that migraines are the result of an increase in blood pressure or volume
within the meninges called the dura mater.
TMJ (Temporo Mandibular Joint) Tension headaches and migraines can also be a direct result of muscle knots in the temple area on the side of the head. This muscle, the temporal muscle, can tire and often "spasm" as it helps the lower teeth close to meet the upper teeth. Overexertion of the temporalis muscle is the direct result of a malocclusion or, to put it simply, a bad or unbalanced bite.
What are the symptoms of a TMJ headache?
There are many different types of headaches, but TMJ headaches usually come with other symptoms. These may include:
tight jaw or facial muscles
jaw or facial pain
a clicking sound in the jaw
restricted jaw movement
changes in your bite (i.e. the way your teeth fit together)
TMJ headaches are also common in one or more regions of the head and face, or may feel like a tension headache.
In contrast, migraine is more stabbing and sharp. They can also be associated with many fun symptoms that affect sensation and vision.While TMJ disorders can make migraines more common, they don't directly cause them. The general problem with headaches is that their characteristics are not very specific to any particular condition. Therefore, any headache can lead to a serious condition. If you have other characteristics of TMJ and the headache is typical of TMJ, then diagnosing the
cause is easier. However, if there are no other TMJ symptoms or the headache is unusual for TMJ, an evaluation to evaluate other disorders is recommended.
TMJ Pain Relief: 8 Best Practices
In mild cases, TMJ pain relief is possible with nonsurgical treatment options, Hearn said. Here are eight ways you can help relieve TMJ pain and control symptoms without surgery:
Maintain the resting position of your jaw
To relieve TMJ pain, minimize wide jaw movements such as chewing, yawning, singing, and screaming. Do your best to keep your muscles as relaxed as possible.
Correct Your Posture
Sitting in a non-ideal position for long periods of time can leave your jaw feeling sore.
When working, choose a chair with a backrest and take frequent breaks to improve your posture.When driving, keep your seat as upright as possible, and when doing recreational activities such as watching TV or reading, choose a seat that allows you to sit upright with a pillow behind your back for support.
Learn suggests the following exercise to correct your sitting or standing posture: Raise your sternum, pull your shoulders back, and gently squeeze your shoulder blades to stretch your back muscles.
Get a good night's sleep
Sleep is important to many aspects of good health. To minimize TMJ pain, sleep on your back and use pillows to support your neck. You should avoid sleeping on your stomach, and if you sleep on your side, don't put your hand on your jaw.Use a hot or cold pack of
Ice helps reduce swelling and pain, while heat can increase circulation and relax jaw muscles. Place a hot or cold pack on your jaw for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, using a thin layer between the pack and the skin.
Relieve Stress
Try meditation techniques to loosen and relax your jaw. Yoga practices can also help put less strain on your muscles, and gardening is a great activity to try to calm your mind and relax your face.
Exercise Your Jaw
Jaw exercises can help increase joint mobility. There are three types of jaw exercises that can be used together to relieve pain:
Stretching exercises
Strengthening exercises
Relaxation exercises
Watching for bad habits
You may have some tendencies that can cause TMD pain. These habits include:
nail biting
cheek and lip chewing
resting jaw on hand
teeth clenching
teeth grinding
clenching jaw muscles, pressing tongue against teeth
patterns and write them down to match them with your doctor to discuss. Pay attention to how often you do them.
Avoid Certain Activities and Foods
Certain activities and foods can cause you to force your mouth open or move your jaw excessively.Try to avoid the following:
Yawning or screaming
Crispy or hard foods
Eating large bites
Foods that require prolonged chewing
Chewing gum
Many temporomandibular joint disorders, including TMJ headaches, need further study , to prove this a safe and reliable treatment plan. For this reason, conservative treatments are often recommended. Many treatments are things that you can easily do.
Lifestyle changes
Changing small jaw-related behaviors may help, including:
Avoiding hard or chewy foods
Reducing stress to avoid coping behaviors such as jaw clenching
Avoiding jaw movements Jaw pain as it occurs with yawning or chewing gum
To control temporomandibular joint pain, short-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may relieve jaw pain and low back pain. These include aspirin (Excedrin), ibuprofen (Advil), and naproxen (Aleve).Applying ice to the jaw can also help relieve pain.
Practicing jaw exercises can help relax muscles and relieve symptoms.
Prescribed Treatments
If lifestyle changes and over-the-counter medications do not relieve your symptoms, make an appointment with your doctor. They may be able to prescribe stronger drugs. The Healthline FindCare tool can provide you with options near you if you don't already have a doctor.
If noninvasive conservative remedies don't help, talk to your doctor about other options. You might want to prescribe something stronger for the discomfort or suggest something like a stabilizing splint (bite guard).Your dentist can also give you a stabilizing splint.
Splints are a common treatment for temporomandibular joints. Although they protect your teeth when you grind them, the reliable source has not been conclusively proven to relieve pain.
These, along with the above treatments, are still only temporary and reversible treatments. They should not be viewed as permanent solutions.Surgical Treatments
There are other more permanent treatments such as orthodontics to permanently change the bite and other dental procedures.
However, none of these treatments have been shown to be effective.
Be very careful when considering permanent treatment for temporomandibular headache. There is no board certification for TMJ disorders in either medicine or dentistry, so it can be difficult to find a doctor who is knowledgeable and experienced in treating TMJ and headaches.
Another option might be to speak to a doctor at a pain clinic affiliated with a hospital or university.This could be particularly helpful in discovering the source of TMJ pain.
What is the prognosis for TMJ headache?
TMJ headaches are uncomfortable but can be treated with a variety of remedies. If you think you have TMJ headaches, talk to your doctor about your symptoms and things you've tried to relieve the pain, even if they haven't been effective.
If the cause is your temporomandibular joint, treatments that target the root cause can help relieve your headache and allow you to take precautions to prevent future headaches.