The majority of people suffer from head or neck ache occasionally, often as a result of the stresses of life. However, most people don't know that it may be their teeth that are causing these headaches. There are many forces placed on the teeth every day, often all day, such as eating, chewing, and speaking. A lot of the causes of neck and headache, and even migraines, are tooth-related. This article will focus on how some of these headaches relate to dentistry and what treatment options you can use to relieve them.

How Does All This Relate to Dentistry?

The teeth, nerves, muscles, and joints all work in tandem to ensure the jaw is aligned properly and functions as it should. When this system is out-of-tune or compromised in any way, occlusal issues, Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMJ), other pain, and serious problems with the teeth can follow. When bite problems put pressure on the muscles, they can become irritable and painful. Levels of pain and discomfort vary from one individual to another, but in some cases it can be very debilitating. Hence, while the teeth need to be aligned properly, so too do the head and neck muscles that surround them. 

What Dental Treatments Are Used To Relieve Headache?

1. Some adjustments to the teeth may be needed. The bite can be balanced by altering the size, position, and direction of the teeth.
2. It may be necessary to replace missing teeth. This can be achieved with crowns, implants, or removable dentures to restore correct balance.
3. The bite may need opening. Headaches and TMJ misalignment may result where vertical height is lost from the teeth. Crowns will restore tooth height and relieve the other symptoms.
4. Mouth guards made of different materials may be provided. These can help with issues such as grinding and clenching, TMJ problems, and more.
5. There are certain medications you can take. Although drugs can relieve discomfort in the short-term, you need to find out what is causing your headaches and address that problem.   
6. Alternative medicines or therapy are another option. This group can include chiropractics, acupuncture, meditation, exercise, and dietary changes. TMJ pain can be relieved by reducing pressure on the joint. Others find that softer foods help in the short-term. It is also possible to relieve pain by applying heat and doing some corrective exercises.

Conclusion

People often overlook the fact that dental problems may be responsible for headaches. However, it is a mistake to dismiss the idea that the teeth have a bearing on other parts of the body. If you have a dental problem that is identified and treated in a timely manner, it should prevent other problems from arising. Problems like damaged teeth, TMJ disorders, bone loss, and receding gums need to be treated, by doctors such as those at HC Dentistry, early if headaches and other pain is to be avoided. If they are not, smaller issues can become much bigger and much more difficult to treat later.