Are you wondering if TMJ can cause headaches? Most people don’t think their jaw could be a reason when they experience a headache. But the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) could be the culprit.
The TMJ connects your jaw to the skull. It allows you to perform several functions, such as talking, chewing, and laughing. It also enables your jaw to move side to side and up and down.
Due to this delicate range of motions, this joint is more complex than other joints. It can cause several symptoms, including headaches if there’s something wrong with it. These symptoms are typically called TMD or temporomandibular disorders.
This is why it’s important to know about TMJ headaches. So the next time you experience one, your efforts to treat it don’t go in vain.
What you need to know about TMJ
TMJ disorders cause severe pain and jaw dysfunction. Any one of the following issues can cause this problem.
- Injury to bones in the jaw
- Misaligned jaw
- Overuse injury to muscles around the jaw
- Teeth grinding
- Muscle knots
All of these problems can lead to pain in the TMJ, making it hard for your jawbone to function properly.
The link between TMJ and headaches
The Jaw pain people experience due to TMJ is often mistaken for a migraine or tension headache. The confusion is because the TMJ shares a direct link with your head in the form of muscles.
The muscle that moves your jaw is a fan-shaped muscle covering each side of your head, along with other muscles located in your cheeks. When these muscles become damaged, knotted, or tense, they place great stress on your head, causing headaches.
When you bite down, your teeth also influence TMJ, and it’s linked to headaches. Misaligned teeth and uneven bites can also place stress on the jaw. This stress can force your joint out of alignment, which ends up causing TMJ headaches.
Differences between TMJ and headaches
Headaches can sometimes originate in the jaw instead of being a conventional headache. These headaches won’t cause symptoms that a migraine headache causes, like sensitivity to sound, light, smell, and nausea.
How do you know which headache is caused by TMJ? Notice the following symptoms that are unique to TMJ pain.
- Clicking sound when you open your mouth
- Difficulty chewing
- Locked jaw
- Pain or tenderness in your jaw
- Earaches
If you experience such symptoms, make sure to visit the oral surgeon in Pasadena for TMJ disorder diagnosis and relief.
Getting proper treatment for TMJ
To treat TMJ and its symptoms, you may need to make lifestyle changes to help relax your muscles. This includes stretching and massaging the muscles and identifying movements that cause problems. You may also need a mouthguard while you sleep if you have a teeth clenching habit. In some cases, you may require to use Invisalign to realign your teeth.
So if you experience headache or pain related to TMJ, please visit Pasadena Oral Surgery. Or you can call us at 281-299-0053 today to schedule an appointment. Our team will help you find the right treatment to alleviate your pain.