Jaw headache
TMJ headache is a type of headache that comes from problems in the jaw.
This headache can be on one side of the head, both sides, or alternate between the sides.
The headache may get worse or better as you move your jaw.
1
Jaw headaches are often localized to the temples and can be exacerbated or improved by jaw movements such as chewing or yawning.
It is often caused by muscle knots or trigger points in the jaw muscles, which in turn can be the result of stress, teeth grinding or other jaw problems.
2
It is recommended to have headaches and jaw pain examined by a healthcare professional with experience of temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD), as this can help reduce headaches.
3
Treatment includes massage, stretching, as well as self-measures such as relaxation, good sleep hygiene and jaw exercises.
How common are jaw headaches?
Problems with the jaw, known as temporomandibular disorders (TMD), are the second most common cause of facial pain. Around 50% of people with TMD have headaches, and the more TMD symptoms you have, the more likely you are to have headaches.
Different groups
There are several types of TMD that can cause headaches:
- Muscle pain (myalgia)
- Joint pain (arthralgia)
- Displacement of the articular disc with or without normalization
- Over-mobility (hypermobility)
- Wear and tear of the jaw joint (osteoarthritis/arthrosis)
Symptoms
Common symptoms include pain on one or both sides of the head, usually in the temple, above the ear, in front of the ear and/or around the jaw joint. The pain is often described as pressure or squeezing. Other symptoms may include difficulty or noises when moving the jaw, ear pain and pressure, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), dizziness, and neck pain. If there is severe shooting pain, decreased sensitivity or nerve pain in the area, other causes of the headache should be considered.
What triggers a jaw headache attack?
Headaches can be triggered by tension, biting and teeth grinding at night, which can mean that someone with TMJ headaches often wakes up with a headache. Headaches can also be triggered by stress and biting during the day.
How to get diagnosed?
The diagnosis of TMD-related headache is based on medical history and a clinical examination in which an attempt is made to reproduce the pain by applying pressure to various structures.
Triggers
The headache is triggered by neck movements or pressure on the upper neck on the affected side. Physical trauma to the neck, such as whiplash, can trigger cervicogenic headaches.
Treatment
Treatment includes massage, stretching, as well as self-measures such as relaxation, good sleep hygiene and jaw exercises.
Prevention
Prevention can include relaxation, stress reduction, movement, stretching and relaxation of the jaw, massage, application of heat/cold, and avoidance of hard and chewy foods and chewing gum.
Read more here about the diagnostic criteria for headache attributed to temporomandibular disorder (TMD) from the International Classification of Headache Disorders, version 3.
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