How Are Headaches Associated with Jaw Pain?

Jaw pain is bad enough, but when paired with a headache, it can be downright excruciating. Grinding teeth is a very common cause of jaw pain and headaches, but there are other reasons too. The joint of the jaw is a hinge that connects the jaw to the skull. If something is not lining up properly, or there is a ‘clicking’ feeling while talking and chewing, this could mean that there is a problem with jaw alignment.
Chewing hard or chewy food can be a factor as well. Stress and lack of sleep can contribute too.

Tight facial or jaw muscles, even restriction to the jaw’s natural movement, can cause pain as well. In some cases, TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders are the root cause of both jaw pain and headaches. This can lead to inflammation, discomfort, and pain that radiates from the jaw to the temples and forehead. If you’re dealing with persistent jaw pain and headaches, it’s important to seek professional help. Our team at Koala Center for Sleep Disorders can help diagnose the underlying cause and offer treatment options to relieve your pain and improve your quality of life.

Jaw pain can be extremely uncomfortable and accompanied by a headache. Sinus and tension headaches are known to contribute to jaw pain, as well as plugged ears or sinus infections. All of these factors are also reported to cause jaw pain. Cluster headaches typically cause pain around and behind the eyes but can often radiate out to the jaw.

Tooth infections can also cause a sore jaw by causing inflammation and headaches affecting the whole skull, making the jaw flare up as well. Conditions such as TMJ, a jaw misalignment, can all cause jaw pain. There is also the possibility of an unnoticed or undiagnosed injury to the skull or jaw. This could even be an old injury that has flared up again. If questioning the type of headache, it is always best to talk to a healthcare provider to rule out any other possible factors or conditions.

Temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, disorder is a classification of conditions that often cause headaches and jaw pain. Studies also indicate that headaches can affect TMJ symptoms. It is always best to refer to your health care provider to be certain, but there are some symptoms of TMJ that you can look for at home.

Symptoms such as a ‘clicking’ feeling or sound of the jaw when opening your mouth to eat or to yawn can be an indicator. Discomfort while eating hard or chewy foods is another great clue. Try reducing the consumption of such foods and see if that makes a difference. Grinding teeth during sleep or during the day due to stress will also cause discomfort, so getting a nighttime mouthguard may help reduce pain and inflammation, too.

Other signs include facial muscle tightness, jaw tenderness, or pain near the ears and temples. If you experience frequent headaches or jaw pain or find that certain activities like chewing or talking exacerbate these symptoms, it may be time to consult with a specialist. At Koala Center for Sleep Disorders, we offer personalized assessments and treatment options for TMJ, including therapies that can relieve headaches and restore jaw function.

When it comes to TMJ headaches, safe and reliable treatment plans need further study, but in the meantime, there are many things one can do to reduce the frequency and severity of headaches associated with jaw pain.

Simple things like lifestyle changes, including the avoidance of eating hard or chewy foods. Reducing stress is also effective at lowering the desire to grind one’s teeth, whether awake or asleep. Taking anti-inflammatory medications such as Aleve or Advil is reported to work as well. Additionally, our team recommends some herbal supplements, such as curcumin, turmeric tablets, or tea, which is a great method too.

A jaw massage can increase blood flow to the jaw, leading to relaxation and reducing the chances of teeth grinding. Jaw exercises throughout the day are useful tools. Icing of the jaw or applying a heating pad has also been shown to be a useful treatment easily done from home as well.

Taking a hot bath before bed and listening to relaxing music can all be useful in helping you to relax, reducing the chances of grinding of the teeth during sleep. Practicing meditation and deep breathing exercises throughout the day and at night helps the entire body relax and take in more oxygen. This will allow for better quality and longer duration of sleep, which reduces the chances of grinding the teeth while in a dream state and allows the body to heal quicker and more efficiently—all contributing to a better overall quality of life.

Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders offers treatments for jaw pain and headaches. For more information, please contact us today or request an appointment online. We have convenient locations in Bloomington IL, Peoria/Dunlap IL, El Paso TX, and Wausau WI.