These Dental Issues Could Be Causing Your Migraine

Did you know that your headache or migraine could be caused by a dental issue? When people use the word “headache,” sometimes they are just describing an irritating issue that is facing them. However, many people deal with real headaches or migraines in some situations. These painful headaches can accompany different types of conditions, and they are not all restricted to the head. In some cases, there is a correlation between headaches, migraines and your teeth.

What is a migraine?

The Migraine Research Foundation describes a migraine as not merely an intense headache. People suffering from chronic regular migraine may experience a migraine 15 days monthly with each episode lasting from four hours to as long as three days.

Nausea, facial tingling, dizziness and sensitivity to sound and light are all symptoms that may accompany migraines. They can mess up the lifestyle of people suffering from them, causing multiple absences from work or school. Migraines may even make them vulnerable to conditions such as depression and anxiety.

Common dental issues that can cause a migraine or headache

Bad bite

Missing, loose, sore or misaligned teeth may contribute to what is regarded as a “bad bite.” This causes intense pressure on the jaw muscles, repeated problems in aligning the teeth and difficulty swallowing or closing the mouth

Teeth grinding or clenching

This dental issue can be caused by stress or misaligned teeth. It can result in muscle or gum inflammation that may trigger headaches and migraines. The usual signs of teeth grinding include sore jaws, a dull recurrent headache, tender teeth, tongue indentations, issues with opening and closing the mouth and a clicking noise when opening the mouth. This condition can damage fillings and crowns, chip or break the tooth or cause flattened and sensitive teeth

Tooth decay

Tooth decay and gum disease can push pain to the head. This makes the patient think they have a headache and not an oral infection. Many headaches can be caused by redirected pain, where the pain is experienced in an area of the body different from the original cause of the pain

Visit the dentist

Visit the dental office regularly and inform them immediately if you are dealing with migraines or a headache and any of the symptoms mentioned above. The dentist will be able to correct your dental issues and possibly your migraine as well with a minor dental procedure or mouth guard. They may even diagnose a more serious dental health issue that requires immediate attention.

Many people overlook warning signs, mistaking them for regular headaches or migraines or avoid the dentist because of anxiety. The truth is that most people would rather not seek professional help until the problem worsens severely. At that stage, the damage may be permanent or more expensive and burdensome.

Final note

Sadly, when people refuse to see the dentist periodically for an appointment, dental issues that cause migraines and other health issues can be misconstrued and left untreated. Remember to book an appointment with a dentist immediately after you notice the signs.

Request an appointment here: https://www.mytotaldentistry.com or call McCarthy Dentistry at (740) 546-5178 for an appointment in our Marietta office.

Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Read our Yelp reviews.