How Headaches and Dental Stress Are Related

It’s a pretty well-known fact that headaches are one of the most common pain-causing issues for residents of Carmel, IN, and beyond.

But did you know that a dentist may be the best person to address your headaches? Specifically, Dr. Smith has a life-changing vision for dentistry that includes addressing headaches.

If your bite isn’t perfect, it can cause dental stress, which leads to pain. That’s why dentists have been researching and perfecting headache-reducing solutions for years and they’re now available for anyone who needs them.

What Causes Headaches?

According to the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain (AACP), “one in eight Americans suffer from recurring headaches that are so severe they cannot carry out normal living.” Furthermore, the AACP points out that “an estimated 80% of all headaches occur from muscle tension.”

Specifically, the cause for headaches deals with muscle tension in the mouth. If your teeth don’t come together in a normal way via your bite, it can cause the muscles in your mouth to compensate. This extra tension can lead to headaches on the sides of your head (or it can feel like the headaches are “wrapping around it”). At the end of the day, headaches aren’t the only negative effect of dental stress.

Dental Stress Side Effects

An improper or misaligned bite does more than just cause headaches. It can lead to other problems like tiredness, pain, muscle imbalance and even possibly lead to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder. Here are some other specific negative effects of dental stress, according to the AACP:

• Clicking or popping jaw joints
• Head and/or scalp painful to the touch
• Pain behind the eyes
• Teeth grinding
• Sore jaw muscles or “tired” muscles upon awakening

Fortunately, there are a variety of solutions for fixing headaches caused by dental stress.

Dental Solutions for Headaches

Visiting Really Smile is the first step for people in Carmel, IN, who think their headaches may be caused by dental stress. Dr. Smith will evaluate your bite, the muscles in your mouth and jaw joints for any signs of muscle tension or dental stress. If needed, he will advise you on dental treatment needed to correct your bite so you don’t have any tension. The ultimate goal? To improve your quality of life!

Dr. Smith may also advise other stress-relieving techniques like physical therapy, counseling or relaxation training to ensure you eliminate tension and headaches. If you’d like to learn more about solutions for headaches and dental stress in Carmel, IN, contact us to schedule a consultation today.