Over 45 million Americans regularly get headaches, with 28 million of them suffering migraines. That’s a lot of people who have to cope with extreme discomfort at any one time.

People who grind their teeth or clench their jaw have been linked to higher cases of migraine. The link between jaw tension and headaches has been around for a while and it’s already an established part of holistic dentistry. This is an issue that can easily be rectified by the right treatment.

If you’re experiencing more headaches than usual or have started having migraines, this could be why. Of course, dental issues are only one possible cause of migraine, but a prevalent one nonetheless.

Of those who suffer from migraine:

• 60 percent suffer one-sided migraine
• 80 percent suffer nausea but only 30 percent are actually sick
• 80 percent of migraine sufferers are sensitive to light and noise
• 45 percent suffer from nasal congestion

Jaw tension and migraine

It is believed that jaw tension from stress and teeth grinding (bruxism) is a trigger for headaches. Most people who display these symptoms are unaware they are doing it. Often, teeth grinding happens when we’re asleep, so we remain unaware unless someone alerts us to it.

The same for jaw tension. We can clench our jaw unconsciously when stressed, which can turn into a habit causing migraines in the worst cases. While bruxism can cause headaches, it also prematurely wears teeth causing other dental issues. Fortunately, there are dental procedures that can help.

One such treatment is a neuromuscular orthotic. It looks a bit like a gum shield that is molded to your teeth. This splint keeps your teeth apart to prevent wear and can also realign your jaw if there are any alignment issues. It’s a very effective remedy for certain conditions and has been linked with a reduction in headaches and migraine with users.

As well as treating the symptoms, the team at Aesthetic Family Dentistry is keen to identify and treat the cause of jaw tension. As it is often stress related, we have a range of therapies that can help including massage and acupuncture. Both are known to relax muscles and address stress.

This combined approach is a very effective treatment for dental-related migraine. If you would like to know more, contact Aesthetic Family Dentistry today.

Here at Aesthetic Family Dentistry we are on the cutting edge of technology.Dentists aren’t just interested in your teeth you know. We concern ourselves with everything to do with your mouth. If you can cannot eat, talk, sleep or even kiss comfortably because something is wrong with your mouth, we can help.

One of the most common causes of discomfort is TMJ, or Temporomandibular Joint Disorder. Neuromuscular dentistry was invented to address this exact problem. As holistic dentists, we at Aesthetic Family Dentistry are naturally concerned with treating this condition.

What is TMJ?

It is estimated that the majority of Americans will suffer from TMJ at some point in their lives. The root of the disorder is a misalignment of the jaw. The condition can produce symptoms that can also be caused by many other things, often resulting in misdiagnosis.

Symptoms of TMJ include:

• Migraines and Headaches
• Facial pain
• Neck and shoulder pain
• Ringing in the ears
• Sensitive and sore teeth
• Worn or cracked teeth
• Jaw pain
• Limited jaw movement or lockjaw
• Clicking of the jaw
• Numbness in fingers and arms
• Depression

As you can see, many of these symptoms could have any number of causes. It takes experts in the diagnosis of TMJ to fully and correctly assess and treat the condition. One of the tools at our disposal is neuromuscular dentistry.

Neuromuscular dentistry

Neuromuscular dentistry uses a range of measurements and treatments to identify and treat TMJ. We use Sonography to identify vibration, Electromyography to measure electrical impulses and BioResearch Electrognathography and Kinesiography to assess jaw movement.

Once we know the root cause of the problem, we can devise an effective treatment for it.

Treatments for TMJ

There is a range of treatments a neuromuscular dentist can use to address TMJ. They include bite alignment such as the use of appliances, orthodontics, TENS to alleviate discomfort and more.

There are also a number of procedures we can perform to correct jaw alignment, but we only use these as a last resort. Each are very effective but can involve several visits and invasive procedures to completely address TMJ.

As holistic dentists, we also suggest chiropractors, physical therapists, massage therapists and acupuncturists to provide a rounded solution. Our goal is your complete wellbeing, which in turn will enhance recovery from TMJ.

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder is a common problem that affects more people than ever realize it. Once correctly diagnosed, it can be treated in a variety of ways. Deciding which works for you will depend on your individual situation.

Contact Aesthetic Family Dentistry today if you think you have TMJ or would like to learn more about the condition.  We pride ourselves in staying on the leading edge of education with regards to neuromuscular Dentistry.