TMJ Disorders And Headaches

What are TMJ disorders?

TMJ disorders are problems with the bones and muscles of the jaw. They refer to the temporomandibular joint. This is the joint that connects your jaw bone with the skull. The muscle groups involved in the connection of the jaw and skull and its movement are all over the head and neck. You can read about the specifics of the TMJ on the Mayo Clinic website. Disorders of the TMJ are also called TMD or TMD (temporomandibular disorders). The name comes from the connection of the jaw (mandible) to the hinge-like sides of the head (the temple).

What are the causes of TMJ disorders?

TMD have various different causes. Some main causes are:

• Jaw/neck/head injury. Injuries that effect the bones and or ligaments may not heal correctly, leading to lifelong pain.
• Genetics. Some people and families will have pains in these parts of their bodies as they age. It can occur as children grow and as elderly adults bones and muscles weaken.
• Arthritis from injury, genetics, or lifestyle can cause TMD.
• Clenching/grinding of the teeth is another cause of TMD. Clenching can be due to every-day stresses. A variety of mental health concerns, such as anxiety or PTSD can lead to clenching of the teeth resulting in TMJ disorders.

What are the symptoms of TMD?

Symptoms of TMD include various issues, including, but not limited to headaches. It affects about 15% of adults. Common symptoms include:

• Jaw pain and dysfunction. This can include pain when chewing, opening the jaw wide, or closing the mouth.
• Earaches. Ear pains are often exacerbated by movement of the TMJ, including chewing, clenching the jaw, and opening the mouth wide.
• Facial pain can be another symptom. It often occurs because of the stress on the bones and muscles beneath the facial skin caused by TMD.
• Headaches. The TMJ connects the jaw with the temple, thus there are many muscles in the temple that are activated both in opening, closing, and clenching the jaw. Additionally, the temple is a notoriously weak area of the skull, where the bone is at its thinnest.

Source: American Family Physician.

How does TMJ disorder cause headaches?

Simply put, tension in the muscles around the head can cause headaches. It obviously isn’t the only catalyst, but it can be a big one. As the constant clenching mentioned above can cause facial pain and headaches, we will look at some causes of that jaw tension.

• Jaw misalignment. When the jaw hinge is not properly aligned with the right places on the skull, it can cause pain. Especially when opening or closing the mouth, jaw misalignment can be a painful and debilitating cause of headaches.
• Uneven bite can be a cause. When the teeth don’t match up properly, the jaw will not be level when closed. This can lead to asymmetry in the muscles in the TMJ and lead to pain in the muscles and headaches.
• Hormonal imbalance can also cause TMD and pain.
• Finally, as we mentioned before, mental stress can be a big catalyst for TMJ.

How do you know if your headache is caused by TMJ or something else?

TMJ disorder headaches manifest with different symptoms than other headaches, say those caused by lack of sleep or dehydration. TMD headaches often will have the following symptoms:

• Clenching of the teeth.
• Jaw movement triggering headaches, facial pain, and head pain.
• Abnormality in the bite.
• Pain in the TMJ area.
• Hearing loss/ringing in the ears.
• Difficulty with bite, bringing the jaws together, and chewing. There may also be pain with the mentioned activities.
• Jaw clicking/popping.
• Pain and discomfort in more than just the head.
  • Pain in the neck and shoulders.
  • Cheeks, ears, jaw, and other areas in the face.
  • Pain in the top of the head.

Treatment of TMD and TMD-related headaches

A study from 2017, by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) found that those who experience headaches are more likely to experience TMD as well. This means that the best way to treat both headaches and TMD is to treat both simultaneously.

Medical treatment

Doctors may prescribe mouth guards and drugs to decrease TMJ disorder-related pain. A bite guard (mouth guard) will prevent your grinding teeth from damaging one another. It will also decrease the stress on your muscles from tooth clenching. Drugs to reduce serious TMJ clenching may include anti-anxiety or antidepressant medicines.

Another form of treatment can be surgery. This is usually used when the TMD is extreme, such as when caused by traumatic injury.

If you are experiencing severe or extreme TMJ pain, then don’t hesitate to see a dentist.

Lifestyle treatment

Because a big cause of TMJ disorder headaches and pain is stress, one of the best ways to reduce the pain is to de-stress your life. Meditation, relaxation techniques, and even physical therapy can help reduce TMD-related pain, including headaches.

Avoiding excessive mandibular movements as well can help. Trying not to open the mouth excessively during yawing, tooth brushing, and flossing can help. Also, try avoiding chewing on things like ice and extremely tough foods.

Getting better sleep is another great way to cut down on TMD pain. It leads to less stressful sleep and less stress from sleep-deprivation.

Worries about a TMD yourself?

At Josey Lane Dentistry, we can help you decrease your TMJ pain. Not only do we perform surgeries and corrective dentistry, but one of our specialties is preventative dentistry. If you are in the Carrollton Texas area, come in and let us have a look. We can give you advice on how to give your jaw and head some rest. Contact us today to set up an appointment.