Tooth Grinding May Lead to Headaches

When someone suffers from a persistent headache, there first thought is usually not to go talk to their dentist. But headaches can be a sign that something is wrong with your oral health and that you need treatment. After scheduling an appointment, your dentist will perform a dental exam to see if there are any issues, and sometimes, it is revealed that the headaches are being caused by teeth grinding.

Grinding your teeth, a condition often referred to as bruxism, is a harmful habit that affects more than just your teeth. Although it can cause your teeth to fracture and weaken, it can also put a tremendous amount of strain on the jaw joints, leading to a temporomandibular joint disorder. This can interfere with your ability to easily open and close your mouth, making eating and speaking very difficult to perform comfortably. Bruxism can be additionally harmful to children or teenagers because their teeth are still developing.

Tooth grinding is most often caused by excessive stress. And many people have a tendency to grind their teeth at night, so they are not even aware that they are doing it. In these cases, our dentist will prescribe a mouth guard to wear at night to protect your teeth and joints from the effects of bruxism. You may also benefit from practicing relaxation techniques to help reduce the amount of stress that you are feeling. Bruxism can also be caused by misaligned teeth, and in this case, you will need to undergo orthodontic treatment to realign your bite.

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