Dental Problems and Headaches
Most patients do not consider headaches to be a dental health concern; however, chronic headaches can be a sign of a temporomandibular disorder (TMD), bruxism, or sleep apnea, and these can be addressed by your dentist.
For patients experiencing headaches due to a dental or sleep condition, they may find little relief from over-the-counter medications and become frustrated by routinely occurring headaches that can interfere with their daily life.
TMD is often the result of an imbalance in the bite, which puts a strain on the jaw joints, causing painful symptoms. A patient with TMD experiences muscle tension, jaw pain, popping and clicking of the jaw, headaches, and discomfort when chewing or speaking.
Headaches & Bruxism
Bruxism is the habit of grinding one's teeth. Patients commonly grind their teeth in their sleep and have little awareness of the behavior. Grinding or clenching of the jaw while sleeping can allow bruxism to go undiagnosed for extended periods of time, resulting in cracked, chipped, or excessively worn teeth. Patients with bruxism often wake with painful headaches first thing in the morning due to many hours of teeth grinding during sleep. The repetitive overuse of the jaw joint and muscles can cause tension headaches and facial discomfort.
Patients who grind their teeth in their sleep may benefit from an oral sleep appliance. The custom-made device is similar to a mouthguard and fits securely over the upper and lower arches of teeth. The appliance is designed to hold the jaw in a comfortable alignment and prevent the jaw from grinding while the patient sleeps. Patients may also benefit from restorative dentistry, such as dental veneers or implants, to repair damage caused by years of teeth grinding.
Headaches & Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a medical condition that can affect your smile and overall wellness. Sleep apnea occurs when the soft tissues in the mouth collapse, blocking the airway. The normal flow of oxygen is disrupted, and patients are deprived of oxygen repeatedly throughout the night. The lack of oxygen can cause painful headaches that typically occur first thing after waking in the morning.
A patient who has sleep apnea should seek treatment as soon as possible. Oral sleep appliance therapy is discreet, comfortable, and potentially life-saving. We offer sleep apnea treatment from the comfort of our Montclair, CA, dental office.
Headaches & Crooked Teeth
Patients with crooked teeth may suffer from headaches. Those with a misaligned bite or crooked teeth are at a higher risk for bruxism, which can wear teeth down. It can be difficult to clean the space between teeth when they are crooked. Bacteria can easily multiply in hard-to-reach spaces, forming plaque and tartar. Crooked teeth can be treated with clear aligners that gradually shift teeth every two weeks. The aligners can be removed for eating and brushing teeth, and tend to be more comfortable than traditional metal braces because they don't irritate gums.
Double A Dental Group Can Help
Do you routinely wake up with headaches first thing in the morning? Treat headaches caused by dental health problems. We will perform a thorough analysis of your oral health, jaw and bite alignment, and consider your medical history to help determine the underlying cause of chronic headaches. Treating the root cause of recurring headaches helps patients find long-term relief and can protect their smile from further damage. Dr. Izvernari may recommend bite realignment using orthodontics, restorative dentistry, or an oral sleep appliance to relieve added pressure on the jaw during sleep. Treatment will be tailored to the specific needs of the patient and may require a combination of restorative and oral sleep appliance therapy. Call Double A Dental Group today or request an appointment online.