Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley CA
Living with frequent or recurring headaches during a global pandemic can interfere with your ability to function. After all, there is the stress of unexpectedly homeschooling your child, possibly reduced work hours, and lower-income for some families is enough to create a headache. If you think your headaches are due to allergies, and you have already been to the doctor, they may have told you to take an over-the-counter medication to ease the symptoms. However, the doctor may have overlooked the source of the problem that is causing headaches. Your dental providers in Scotts Valley at Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry want you to know how to get headache relief during a global pandemic.
What is TMJ disorder?
On either side of your head there is a connection between your jaw and your skull known as the temporomandibular joint. The temporomandibular joint is composed of bone, muscles, tendons, and cartilage and is responsible for controlling your jaw movements. Every part must work together, or your jaw may malfunction, causing TMJ disorder. To find out if you have TMJ disorder, neuromuscular dentists in Los Gatos use state of the art technology to diagnose and treat the symptoms and effectively reduce your pain.
How does TMJ disorder cause headaches?
TMJ symptoms often vary, but the one thing all patients have in common is pain. The pain does not necessarily come just from your jaw, as TMJ disorder could trigger headaches, neck pain, shoulder pain, and even back pain. The most prominent nerve in the head is the trigeminal nerve, which is located close to the temporomandibular joint. When the nerve is aggravated, it sends pain impulses to the head and other areas of the body. That’s why you can’t rely solely on jaw pain as a symptom of TMJ disorder.
Headaches are only one symptom that stems from this ailment. Sufferers often clench and grind their teeth while sleeping, which is a condition referred to as bruxism. Both issues could be the culprit causing your headaches. Wearing a neuromuscular orthotic can release pressure on your jaw joints, and your headaches could diminish or disappear altogether.
Many patients that unknowingly have TMJ disorder assume their headaches and neck pain are due to stress. While stress certainly can exacerbate a case of TMJ disorder, the cause most often is due to a misaligned bite. Sometimes a crooked bite is apparent when you look in the mirror, but other times, a TMJ evaluation in Scotts Valley is needed to diagnose the condition.
Headache Relief in Scotts Valley, Los Gatos, and Santa Cruz, California
Living life with debilitating headaches during an already stressful time may only exacerbate your pain. Unfortunately, TMJ disorder will not heal over time nor cure itself if ignored. It requires a trained professional dentist in Scotts Valley, such as Drs. Max and Arianna Ebrahimian to diagnose and properly treat the condition. If you are suffering from severe, frequent headaches, neck pain, or notice sounds emanating from your jaw, it is time to stop covering up the symptoms with anti-inflammatory medications and get the proper treatment to deal with the problem. Feel free to contact Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry today by calling (831) 438-4411 or contact us today. You do not have to suffer from debilitating headaches. We are here for you!
