Can Migraines Be Dental Related?

Nearly one out of eight Americans suffer from recurring headaches or migraines. To educate the public on the reality of these painful and sometimes debilitating disorders, the American Headache & Migraine Association (AHMA) observes Migraine & Headache Awareness Month every June. While this cause may seem unrelated to dentistry, the team at my Columbia dental office want to share just how connected the two can be.

Migraine vs. Headache

Before we dive into how dental health can contribute to migraines, it’s important to differentiate headaches and migraines. Although similar, headaches and migraines tend to have different symptoms, some of which can affect everyday life for the duration of the episode. Let’s examine the two.

Headaches

  • Pain could be intense/throbbing, or dull/mild

  • Tend to affect the entire skull, or be focused throughout the forehead

  • Typically don’t have other symptoms

Migraines

  • Pain could also be intense/throbbing, or dull/mild

  • Usually affect one side of the head, but can cause whole-head pain

  • Normally paired with additional symptoms including:

    • Nausea

    • Sensitivity to light or sound

    • Pain in the temple

    • Pain behind one eye or ear

The Migraine-Dentistry Connection

Research supports the theory that a bad bite (malocclusion) can contribute to recurring migraines. When teeth don’t align from top to bottom, your ideal bite is thrown off, causing issues to your TMJ (jaw joint). Anatomically, your head is attached to your jaw, and the two share muscles. When the muscles in your jaw become strained due to a bad bite, it can affect your head, thus leading to a migraine. Your dentist in Columbia may be able to help diagnose and treat this misalignment, giving you relief from migraines.

Don’t continue to live your life managing your migraines without exploring a possible solution to rid yourself of the pain. If you’re ready to see if your migraines could be caused by a bad bite, call my dental office in Columbia to schedule an appointment today. We’ll look at your bite, teeth wear, and other factors to recommend the best treatment for you. Don’t keep suffering, call us today.

Accepting patients from Columbia, Elgin, Lugoff.