You may be surprised to learn that frequent headaches can be caused from an alignment in your lower jaw. Yes, you heard that right. The ocasional, or sometimes frequent, headaches that robs you from concentrating at work or school could be caused from a little something called TMJ. ( or Temporomandibular Joint Disorders).
What are some other common symptoms of TMJ?
- Pain in your face, jaw, or neck and shoulder.
- Pain or discomfort around your ear when you move your jaw for chewing, speaking or just to open your mouth wide.
- Your jaw gets locked or stuck open or closed.
- Clicking or popping sounds. It’s also common to have a grating sound.
- You may have trouble chewing as if your teeth don’t fit together right.
What are common causes in TMJ?
Scientists and dentists aren’t exactly sure what causes TMJ. What we do know is that it’s believed to stem from muscles in your jaw or the joint itself.
- Grinding your teeth can put a lot of pressure on your joint and thus lead to TMJ.
- Stress. Believe it or not, but stress can cause you to tighten your jaw muscles and your teeth, which can lead to TMJ.
As you can see from some of the symptoms and causes of TMJ, additional pressure throughout the jaw area can lead to headaches.
One of the biggest misconceptions is that people who experience headaches try to medicate the pain away instead of searching for a permanent solution.
If you have frequent headaches, or feel any of the symptoms above, be sure to contact your local TMJ Specialist to schedule an appointment.
