How Your Dentist Can Help With Jaw Pain And Headaches

Regular visits to the dentist can involve more than just checking up on your teeth and searching for any cavities. Dentists can also assist with pains that may be related to the teeth or mouth muscles, like headaches or jaw and neck pain.

TMD, or temporomandibular joint dysfunction, is a major cause of headaches and neck and shoulder pain. It can affect jaw joints, muscles, and even facial nerves. If left untreated, it can be incredibly painful.

The connection between TMD, sleep disorders, headache, and jaw pain is well documented. A dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) can impact your entire body and place stress on your nervous system. Fortunately, there are treatments available for people with TMJ dysfunction and associated symptoms.

What Causes Jaw Pain And Headaches

The leading cause of dental jaw pain and headaches is issues with the temporomandibular joint. Typically, there is no single cause for TMD, but it’s a result of a combination of factors that can be the origin of teeth grinding. These can include:

• Stress or mental health conditions like anxiety
• Breathing obstruction: nasal and or OSA
• Pain
• Drugs: specifically SSRI antidepressant drugs and recreational drugs
• Gastrointestinal issues 
• A jaw injury, like a broken or dislocated jaw

Certain habits can also make TMD worse and add to the severity of symptoms, like jaw pain. These are:

• Using your teeth inappropriately, like chewing on pens or pencils
• Poor posture—this can place excess pressure on your neck and facial muscles
• Excessive chewing
• Daytime teeth clenching or grinding
• Sleeping on your stomach

Finding the exact cause of headache and jaw pain can be difficult. That’s why it’s important to speak to a professional so they can determine if it’s because of lifestyle reasons, a previous injury, or dental.

What is TMJ?

The temporomandibular joint is a crucial joint that connects the jaw to the skull. It is important for tasks like talking, chewing, and laughing.

How To Know If Your Jaw Pain And Headaches Are A Problem

It’s normal for people to have imperfect bite alignment, missing teeth, or other factors that contribute to TMD yet never have any symptoms. This is because their bodies adjust to the issues. However, if it does start to cause pain, tension, or headaches, it’s become a problem, and you should seek professional help.

TMJ headache pain is often misdiagnosed and treated as a regular headache. This is because they are similar to tension and sinus headaches. So, if you experience regular headaches but can’t find the reason, it’s worth speaking to a professional and exploring TMD as a potential cause.

Treatment Options For Jaw Pain And Headaches

The treatment options for TMJ dysfunction and related symptoms, like headaches, will depend on the individual and the root cause. Treatment options vary depending on your diagnosis. It is important to take an integrated approach and look at everything from lifestyle changes to appliance therapy and referrals to health professionals, from ENTs to physios and chiropractors. Surgical intervention should be the last resort.

Lifestyle Changes & Self-Management

If your TMJ dysfunction is caused by factors like psychological conditions, it might be appropriate to seek consultation with a psychologist. If appropriate, medication might be indicated.

Sleep is arguably the most important factor in investigating the reasons behind chronic jaw pain. A recent study completed in Australia (featured on Michael Mosely’s SBS series Australia’s Sleep Revolution) revealed that up to 40% of the population experience a sleeping disorder, and of that, 80% are undiagnosed. Inadequate sleep, particularly for those suffering from obstructive sleep apnoea or any type of airway resistance syndrome, is comorbid with headaches and TMJ dysfunction.

Gut health is an extremely important area to consider. Inflammation in the gut can affect your whole body, especially causing pain in the joints. Seeking a diet that reduces inflammation while supporting your gut microbiome is one of the most important things you can do to help with this and many other conditions. Your dentist might also refer you to a Dietician or Naturopath.

Jaw exercises can also help relax your muscles and alleviate TMJ symptoms. They help strengthen and stretch your jaw muscles, increase TMJ mobility, and release tension. We always recommend consulting with a physiotherapist or chiropractor who has completed extended studies in TMJ.

For managing pain caused by TMJ, short-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen or aspirin, can be helpful. Heat packs can also relieve the pain as they get the blood flowing to promote healing. Resting your jaw, eating softer foods, and cutting foods into smaller pieces for acute periods of TMJ pain can also be helpful. However, this isn’t practical in the long term. If symptoms persist, book a consultation at Admire Dentistry.

Before undertaking any lifestyle changes to tackle TMJ disorders, it’s always important to talk to a professional first. They can help you find the root cause of your condition, whether it be action-related, mental health, stress, or dental, and create an appropriate treatment plan. Studies have shown that relaxation therapy or counselling can also prove useful for TMD if the root cause is due to psychological stresses such as anxiety. The techniques taught in sessions can help learn how to control tension and be more aware of stressful situations.

Dentist-prescribed treatments

In addition to lifestyle changes, it is important to seek advice from a dentist who has completed further study into TMJ disorders, sleep disorders, and craniofacial pain. Your dentist can often send you to get a 3D scan of your head and jaw and assess you clinically to determine the root cause. They may also be able to prescribe stronger medications for pain and discomfort in the short term. They can also assist with an oral orthotic or orthopedic appliance.

Oral Orthotics/Orthopedic appliances are a common treatment for TMJ disorders. They can help protect teeth if you grind them or clench your jaw while also protecting and decompressing the TMJ to reduce inflammation and heal the joint capsule. If the pain is primarily TMJ-related, this should relieve it. 

Dental or surgical treatment

In conjunction with the above, it is important to know that there can be multiple causes of TMJ dysfunction. We must take an integrated approach and work with other specialists to ensure our patients are getting the best care. 

Team for sleep

These are the specialists who help treat the restoration of normal and proper sleep.

• Psychiatrist
• Neurologist
• Psychologist
• Nutritionist
• Physical therapist
• Acupuncture 
• Sleep physician
• Otolaryngologists (ENT) 

Team for Chronic Pain

Depending on your individual needs, you can be referred to these professionals to ensure optimum patient care.

• Rheumatologist 
• Orthopedic surgeon
• Chiropractor
• Internal medicine
• Podiatrist
• Homeopathic physician
• Physical medicine specialist

Is TMJ dysfunction preventable?

Yes, in children, we can ensure that we manage airways and optimise craniofacial growth to reduce the chance of TMJ dysfunction in adulthood. When it occurs in adults, we can only support and maintain. There are measures you can take to reduce the risk. These include:

• Manage your airways
• Follow a low-inflammatory diet
• Cut back on alcohol and recreational drugs
• Take care of your mental health; meditation and mindfulness are important 
• Wear a custom-designed oral orthotic to support your jaw and protect your teeth
• Practice good posture

Staying on top of your dental health is also important. There is a direct link from the oral microbiome to the gut microbiome. The mouth is the gateway to your whole body, so take care of it. Make sure to book regular appointments with your dentist for comprehensive check-ups and cleaning.

Let Admire Dentistry Help Your Jaw Pain And Headaches

If you find yourself waking up in the morning with TMJ symptoms, like jaw pain or headaches, a professional dentist can help. At Admire Dentistry, we offer more than dental treatment—it’s a dental wellness experience.

Our team understands the impact teeth can have on your life, including the jaw, and the pain they can cause. With locations in the Arana Hills and Samford Village, our staff is backed by years of experience to assist with any dental concerns you’re facing.

We understand how daunting dentist clinics can be, so we try to make the environment as trusting, gentle, and comfortable as possible. If you require any accommodations, our team will do the best we can to meet them.

If you need help with jaw pain, headaches, or any other dental concerns, request an appointment online today or contact us. We look forward to chatting with you and starting a dental journey together.