Is there a Natural Solution to Treating Headaches?

Categories: TMJ/TMD

natural headache reliefSCOTTS VALLEY, SANTA CRUZ CA

Starting your day with a headache can have you reaching for relief in your medicine cabinet as soon as your feet hit the floor. However, when you experience daily headaches, it can seem impossible to focus and get through the day, especially when over-the-counter remedies fail to work. In most cases, people are unsure why they have a headache or consistent headaches every day. A headache can begin because of hunger, allergies, stress, dehydration, or a lack of sleep. Fortunately, our Scotts Valley dentists that treat TMJ disorder at Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry explain on the blog today the connection between your headaches and the temporomandibular joint and how natural treatments can be highly effective for most patients.

What is the connection between your headaches and the temporomandibular joint?

Your jawbone connects to your skull on each side by the temporomandibular joint. Next to the joint is a central body nerve called the trigeminal nerve. This primary nerve extends from your spinal cord and reaches your forehead, face, and jaw. Our Santa Cruz TMJ dentist explains this central nerve controls facial and oral movements like chewing, speaking, swallowing, and more. Unfortunately, when the nerve becomes aggravated, you could experience radiating pain through your head, teeth, jaw, neck, or sinuses. In the most extreme cases, you may also experience back pain or sensations throughout your spine, especially when TMJ disorder remains untreated.

Temporomandibular joint disorder or TMJ/TMD typically starts when your temporomandibular joint has blood flow-restricting inflammation. Unfortunately, due to the restriction, you may feel painful sensations that could be the cause of your chronic headaches, especially when over-the-counter remedies fail to provide relief.

Our Los Gatos dentists that treat TMJ disorder explain that the painful sensations will not stop until you get the necessary treatment to remedy the underlying condition. Therefore, it’s crucial to seek natural treatment options from a qualified provider to reduce daily pain and headaches.

TMJ Disorder Diagnosis Process

Patients who visit our Scotts Valley dental office for TMJ disorder can expect an oral examination and consultation to discuss their condition and possible treatment options. Dr. Max and Dr. Ariana use specialized equipment to monitor jaw sounds and movement throughout the exam. Then, the software quickly calculates your jaw misalignment details, which are crucial in customizing an appropriate treatment plan.

After completing your diagnosis, treatment may begin immediately in our office using a TENS unit. This medical machine uses ultra-low frequencies to stimulate and relax tense muscles without pain. With the ability to adjust the settings, most patients express that the experience makes them feel tingling sensations in the face, then relief.

Next, our Scotts Valley TMJ dentists will stabilize your bite. Since the temporomandibular joint determines how your mouth functions when opening and closing, treating the joint with a custom oral appliance can improve your jaw’s resting position, stabilizing your bite over time. Patients who wear the oral appliance as directed can relieve jaw pain and reduce headaches. Some patients require additional treatments to rebuild their bite, especially when they have missing, uneven, or crooked teeth that could complicate the situation. Therefore, we may suggest specific procedures outside of TMJ treatment to restore your bite and reduce the tension on your jaw joints. However, you should experience fast relief without medications as you progress through treatment.

Natural Solutions to Headaches in Los Gatos, Santa Cruz, and Scotts Valley, California

Living a busy life means no time for a headache to interfere with your thinking, focus, or patience. While over-the-counter medications may provide brief relief, they often wear off or aren’t that effective. To find true relief from debilitating daily headaches, uncovering and treating the underlying problem is necessary. Therefore, if you wake up with daily headaches and over-the-counter medications don’t help, it’s time to schedule a consultation with our Santa Cruz dentists who treat TMJ at Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry. Feel free to call our office at (831) 438-4411 or contact us online to schedule an appointment so that you can start every day feeling your best.