If there is one thing most people can agree with, it is that tooth pain is an incredibly unpleasant experience. Most people find dental problems almost unbearable, whether they have constant, throbbing pain or experience more localized pain when chewing or consuming either cold or hot foods. As a family dentist in Colorado Springs, we see firsthand how these issues affect more than just teeth.
Can dental problems cause headaches? Let’s take a closer look.
Toothaches
Toothaches are a common cause of migraine headaches. This is because almost every toothache or headache is detected by the trigeminal nerve, one of the biggest nerves in the head. This nerve is responsible for providing the sensation to your face, including your gums and teeth. When you have a toothache, the nerve can become irritated and lead to a migraine headache.
Teeth grinding
Teeth grinding does not cause headaches directly; however, it does cause “referred pain” to your head. This kind of pain essentially broadcasts to a different location than the source of the pain. Instead of feeling pain in your jaw after grinding your teeth, for example, you might experience the pain in your head instead, thus leading to the sensation of a headache.
Bade bites
A bad bite – a bite where your teeth don’t align properly or where pressure is uneven due to missing teeth, can cause toothaches and TMJ, both issues which can also cause migraines. Regular trips to a Colorado Springs dentist can help detect these issues before they impact your health.
TMJ
As described above, TMJ can lead to headaches. This dental issue occurs when a jaw joint and its surrounding muscles function abnormally and lead to pain doing things such as chewing or opening and closing the mouth.
Don’t let tooth pain affect your life. Reach out to our Colorado Springs family dentistry for help.