Conservative estimates indicate that 45 million people suffer from chronic headaches. These headaches result in over eight million visits to doctors’ offices every year, and a staggering 157 million work days lost on an annual basis. Loss of productivity aside, chronic headaches and migraines are debilitating to every aspect of your life. In many cases, pills do little more than make you fall asleep. Far from a solution, this only serves to further take you away from the things you enjoy.
There is no conclusive medical evidence about what causes migraines. However, there is a growing body of evidence that suggests a contributing factor is temporomandibular joint disorder or TMD. Few people think about neuromuscular dentistry when they are looking for a solution to chronic headaches, but this may be an ideal solution for many who suffer from this reoccurring problem.
TMJ/TMD and Migraines
Your temporomandibular joint can be affected by a wide range of problems. These problems, individually and combined, are known as TMD. TMD is identifiable through symptoms such as:
Clicking, popping, or other noises when chewingLimited jaw mobility or complete lockjawSevere pain in the jaw, neck, or faceChronic headaches or migraines
Migraine headaches are not like normal headaches brought about by stress or environmental pollutants. Migraines can be identified through symptoms such as:
Throbbing pain in an isolated spot on your head or behind your eyesNausea and vomitingSensitivity to lightCold feet and hands
Migraines can last for several days, leaving you unable to do anything but hope they go away. With advances in neuromuscular dentistry, both the duration and occurrence of migraines can be greatly reduced.
Treating Migraines with Neuromuscular Dentistry
To treat TMD and the migraines it can cause, your jaw will need to be placed into proper alignment. In order to do this, a special TENS unit is used to relax the muscles in your jaw and help your neuromuscular dentist determine your optimal bite. Once this is established, a treatment option can be created to realign your jaw and put an end to your pain.
There are various options for treating a misaligned bite. These include:
Orthotics to be worn at night and gently realign your jawRestorative dental work to correct misaligned teethFixing existing dental work to restore your bite
Working closely with a neuromuscular dentist, the option most suited to meet your needs can be determined.
Living with chronic headaches is a terrible burden that no one should have to bear. Seeking out treatment options that go beyond relieving pain to address the underlying cause of your migraine can help you regain control over this debilitating problem.
If you live in or around Portsmouth, Norfolk, Hampton, Chesapeake, Newport, or Virginia Beach, Virginia and are suffering from chronic headaches, please visit the website of Dr. Michael P. Folck DDS to see how our neuromuscular dentists can help treat migraine headaches.
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Explaiing how to induce a Still Point on yourself to alleviate the pain and pressure of a headache or migraine. Video Rating: 4 / 5
