Severe and recurring headaches can be a sign of a dental problem. The health of our bodies is interconnected in ways we can’t even imagine, and this connection between headaches and teeth is one of them.
Every time we take a bite of food, our upper and lower teeth come together properly but firmly. However, those with misaligned teeth or missing teeth are unable to complete their bite properly, meaning their upper and lower teeth don’t close along the jaw curve, causing the muscles that connect both the jaw and the head to work with strain. In addition, if you overclench your teeth at night when you sleep or during the day, this puts too much force on the jaw muscles. It is this strain on the muscles that causes headaches.
All our bodily functions are made possible by the combined efforts of our muscles. From the muscles in the cheek to the muscles in the neck, they all work in close cooperation with each other so that the head rests firmly on the spine. But when one muscle is not strong enough, other muscles work harder to keep the head from tilting to the side and to maintain balance.
There are two things to learn here.
1- A problem in one muscle can affect all the areas connected to it, such as the neck, shoulders and back.
2- Because of the complex relationship that muscles share, pain felt in one area may have its source in a different place.
The dentist will not only carefully examine your teeth, but also check for irregularities such as tenderness/pain in the shoulders or neck to identify the source of the pain. Malnutrition, sports trauma, teeth grinding can further contribute to headaches. In this case, your dentist may ask you to wear aligners to help your jaw function normally. In addition, jaw Botox will also contribute to the resolution of clenching headaches.
In case of misalignment, your dentist will recommend braces or clear aligners to help correct the position of the jaw and teeth. Likewise, if you are missing a tooth, your dentist will plan treatments such as implants, bridges, etc. according to the needs of the problem.
Stress can also be a contributing factor to headaches caused by dental diseases. In such cases, it is necessary to consult a counselor and seek help for stress caused by emotional problems.