Frequent headaches are annoying and painful. Migraines cause irritability, dizziness, and blurred vision, making it difficult to concentrate and focus during the day. Stress, diet, genetics, and lifestyle factors can cause headaches—but so can your teeth! Dr. Locke can examine your mouth for dental signs that could be triggering your head pain.
Common Dental Problems that Cause Headaches
- TMJ: Your temporomandibular joints (TMJ) attach your lower jaw to your skull. When these joints become misaligned due to grinding, injury, or any other circumstance, your facial muscles and nerves will try to re-balance and re-align, causing tension and pressure on your joints.
- Misaligned Bite: If your teeth don’t fit together properly, one side of your mouth may have to work more than the other. This imbalance can create a pull or strain on your jaw.
- Toothaches: Tooth pain in your back molars may cause a throbbing sensation near the back of your lower jaw. When the pulp of your tooth becomes infected or irritated, your nerve sends messages to your brain to make you feel sensitivity or pain. Furthermore, the stress of a toothache may cause you to worry about your oral health, creating dental headaches.
- Dental Problems: Cavities, gum disease, and other dental issues can cause stress, anxiety, or worry. As you panic about your health, weigh your treatment options, and analyze your budget concerns, your brain may feel confused and overwhelmed, causing a pounding in your head.
- Braces: Orthodontic treatments are designed to shift your teeth and jaw. When first adjusting to braces or retainers, you may feel tightness or a pull in your teeth, cheeks, and facial muscles.
Dr. Locke can analyze your mouth to determine what oral condition is influencing your headache. Your Waco dentist has studied pain relief and TMJ therapy at the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies and the Pankey Institute. Dr. Locke practices Centric Relation and Neuromuscular Dentistry to help relieve your TMJ discomfort. Call our Waco dentist office at (254) 776-4888 to schedule an appointment. We welcome patients from Waco, Woodway, McGregor, Hewitt, and surrounding Central Texas communities.