Your Migraine Could Actually Be a TMJ Disorder

When you struggle with migraine headaches, you typically don’t immediately suspect your jaw is at fault. However, studies have shown that your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) just might be the thing to blame for your headache pain.

Your TMJ is a hinge that connects your head to the side of your jaw. This joint allows you to chew, talk, laugh, and move your jaw side to side. But because your TMJ has such a wide range of motion, it’s prone to a variety of issues. When you have troubles with your TMJ, you can experience jaw pain or clicking, and it’s referred to as a TMJ disorder. 

Both migraine headaches and TMJ disorders are common. Because of that, Andrea B. Elenbaas, DMD, MS and the rest of our team at Remedy Clinic in Gulfport, Mississippi want to give you more information on TMJ disorders to help you determine if that could be what’s triggering your migraines.

The relationship between TMJ disorders and migraine headaches

If you struggle with a TMJ disorder, you might experience some of the following symptoms:

• Pain and tenderness in your jaw
• Decreased mobility in your neck and jaw (lockjaw)
• Jaw clicking or popping
• Shoulder pain
• Ear ringing
• Teeth grinding or clenching

You can experience these symptoms on one side of your head or neck or even both sides. 

Experts aren’t sure what causes TMJ disorders exactly, but it could be things such as genetics, stress, hormonal imbalances, poor posture, or even pain sensitivity. Some of these factors — such as stress and hormonal changes — are also known to trigger migraines. Because of this, TMJ disorders can trigger migraine pain, and vice versa.

TMJ disorders can also cause migraine pain whenever you aggressively contract your jaw muscles. This pain can originate at the joint and then travel upwards to cheeks and then ultimately to your head, causing headache pain.

Treatment options

If your migraines are being caused by a TMJ disorder, there’s many ways you can try to manage the symptoms on your own at home.

Because stress is such a huge trigger for both TMJ disorders and migraines, we recommend practicing some stress relief techniques such as breathing and mindfulness exercises, meditation, and yoga. 

Simple lifestyle changes can give your jaw a break and lessen headache pain. You can try eating softer foods, doing some jaw exercises, or using heat and ice packs. Also try to avoid clenching your jaw, chewing gum, or biting especially hard objects.

If these more conservative methods don’t seem to help, our team at Remedy Clinic can offer you treatments such as physical therapy, or we may even prescribe a splint for you to wear that can protect your teeth and jaw.

Do you suspect that your migraines are caused by a TMJ disorder? Don’t wait to have it properly diagnosed and treated by our expert team at Remedy Clinic. Call us or go online to book an appointment today.