When you have a bad headache, what can be done about it? If you call your primary physician, their response might be, “Take two aspirin and call me tomorrow.” Your doctor may be right, as a simple head throb is typically the result of stress, too much food, too much alcohol intake, lack of sleep or too much work with little relaxation. But your dentist may see a headache as more than just the result of you overextending yourself in life endeavors.
Dental headaches are caused by overextending the central nerve of the head, called the trigeminal nerve, which runs through the face, jaw, scalp and teeth. Some causes of overextension of this central nerve might be from such dental conditions as malocclusion. Malocclusion is the result of a bad bite due to misalignment of the teeth, causing the jaw to work harder than necessary when chewing, which triggers that trigeminal nerve to react with a throbbing pain. Another cause for a dental headache is in the treatment for malocclusion. The orthodontic brace used to straighten teeth, composed of metal wire, brackets and elastic, can get too tight and requires adjusting the brace’s tension.
Dental headaches can also be the beginnings of a decayed tooth. Pain in one area of face can be felt in another part by that trigeminal nerve, as it runs through the face and jaw. The mouth and the head muscles are interconnected, and the stresses that get put on teeth just might show up in the head rather than the mouth, jaw or cheek. This is called referred pain.
A dental headache can also be a symptom of such dental disorders as bruxism, or teeth grinding, which puts the muscles of the face through quite a workout. Bruxism usually occurs while asleep, and the person is usually not even aware of such grinding.
Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) is the disorder of the mandible joint of the lower jaw. When the lower jaw is overworked or injured (stressed) by medical conditions such as arthritis or physical trauma, the jaw sends pain signals to that central nerve in the head. TMJ can also be triggered by excessive gum chewing, eating crunchy foods, or having to hold your mouth open for too long while in the dental chair.
What can be done about a dental headache? First take an aspirin for basic pain relief, and in the morning, pay a visit to your friendly and knowledgeable dentist for an evaluation of your mouth and teeth.
For more information or to schedule an appointment with Campbell Smile, request an appointment in our Campbell dental office here: https://www.campbellsmile.com. Or call us at (408) 676-5325.
Since one of our services includes emergency dentistry, we know the hardest thing about having a dental emergency can be finding the right care. At that moment, the last thing you want to be doing is spending too much time looking for a provider who can take care of a bleeding tooth or take away…
As an emergency dentist, we can provide immediate care for dental accidents and pain. Do not hesitate to call.When a dental emergency strikes, you need prompt and immediate dental care. Waiting too long can cause the oral health issue or damage to only get worse. Whether it is an infection, chipped tooth, or an empty…
Do you grind your teeth? Though it’s a common condition, it’s also highly damaging. Find out how dentists treat teeth grinding, and solve this issue.Everyone grinds their teeth from time to time whether it be intentional when annoyed or unintentionally when sleeping. But if a person grinds their teeth a lot, and particularly while they…
Looking for information on tooth swelling? If there is any swelling in your mouth, then you need to find out what is going on as soon as possible. The swelling can be due to many things, which means it can be a minor or major dental issue. Minor mouth swelling issues can include things like…
A chipped tooth is not always a serious dental condition unless the damage reaches the pulp chamber. However, that does not mean it is okay to ignore a chipped tooth simply because it is not causing pain. The most likely part of a tooth to be affected by a chip is the outer layer known as…
Those looking to straighten their teeth discreetly and fast can opt for the Invisalign® system. This teeth straightening treatment employs a set of clear aligner trays to correct teeth alignment and bite. Once the treatment starts, it is necessary to take proper care of the Invisalign trays to keep them in good shape.The following goes…