What is a TMJ headache? A TMJ headache is face, cheek, and head pain caused by a TMJ disorder. This disorder causes pain in the temporomandibular joint—the joint that connects the jaw to the skull—which spreads upwards to other areas of the head.
One of the main symptoms of a TMJ disorder is headaches that tend to be frequent. These headaches may feel like any other headache or like a tension headache, but they tend to occur and recur in one or more regions of the head and/or face. You may also feel facial tightness/pain, or jaw tightness/pain/clicking.
Clicking in your jaw, trouble opening your mouth, ringing in your ears, and unexplained pain in your upper body are all symptoms of a TMJ disorder. If you're experiencing any of these symptoms alongside your headaches, then it's likely that TMJ is to blame.
Pinched Nerves
Some types of migraines trigger when branches of the trigeminal get pressure from jaw muscles. When these jaw muscles are overactive or unbalanced because of TMJ, they can put pressure on the branches of the trigeminal nerve, triggering a migraine.
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders are a large group of conditions that cause pain and/or dysfunction in the area around the jaw. About 80% of people with a TMJ disorder develop headaches due to referred pain. For most people, headaches from a TMJ disorder are short lived and improve with conservative measures.
While there are several reasons a patient can experience sudden or severe jaw pain, inflammation and overworked muscles tend to be the most common causes of TMJ flare-ups. Many physical changes and lifestyle habits can contribute to swelling around the joint and muscle tension.
Stress causes your TMJ to experience stress. Clenching your jaw, biting your tongue, and yelling requires you to strain your jaw muscles and joints. Stress is the number one cause of SUDDEN TMJ pain because it usually sets in after you have found time to relax.
TMJ symptoms last anywhere from a couple of days to a few weeks. Some TMJ disorders can last months or years.
Chronic cluster, migraine, or tension headaches may be mistaken for TMJ disorder, especially since TMJ disorder itself can cause such headaches. Chronic sinus pain and sinus infections can also produce pain around the temples that can feel like TMJ disorder.
Remember that for most people, discomfort from TMJ disorders will eventually go away on its own. Simple self-care practices are often effective in easing symptoms. If treatment is needed, it should be based on a reasonable diagnosis, be conservative and reversible, and be customized to your special needs.
Tension headaches are commonly caused by the involuntary tightening of the muscles in the head and neck. TMD on the other hand, is caused by dysfunction in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), ranging from dislocation and arthritis to jaw misalignment and inflammation.
When TMJ affects the eyes, the symptoms can include pressure that builds behind the eye sockets. Some people may also experience blurry vision. TMJ often causes tension headaches, which can contribute to blurry vision and pressure behind the eyes. Sufferers can also have pain around their eyes due to TMJ.
Aching pain in and around your ear. Difficulty chewing or pain while chewing. Aching facial pain. Locking of the joint, making it difficult to open or close your mouth.
Causes include teeth grinding, jaw injuries, arthritis and everyday wear and tear. TMJ treatment varies from person to person and may include medication, physical therapy, custom mouth guards and jaw surgery.
TMJ Disorders Can Be Both Medical and Dental Problems
Arthritis is another medical condition that can lead to a TMJ disorder. However, TMJ disorders can also be a dental problem by nature, especially when it is caused by an underlying problem with a person's teeth.
TMJ Can Be Caused By Stress-Induced Grinding & Clenching
The answer is “yes.” Stress can definitely contribute to TMJ, or even be a direct cause of TMJ. This is because stress is thought to be a big factor that contributes to grinding and clenching, also known as “bruxism.”
Unusual for chronic pain conditions, the prevalence rates of TMJ disorders are higher among younger persons. TMJ disorders are at least twice as prevalent in women as men, and women using either supplemental estrogen or oral contraceptives are more likely to seek treatment for these conditions.
Stress & Anxiety Can Lead to TMJ Disorder
Common symptoms of stress can be an inability to sleep, headaches, teeth grinding, and muscle pain. Because of the common link between stress and teeth grinding, it is easy to develop TMJ disorder as a result.
TMJ flare-ups can last from a couple of hours to several days. Untreated cases of TMJ disorder can become chronic and debilitating. The length of time that TMJ flare-ups last depends on the person. Each case is different and is determined by the underlying cause and if any treatment is being utilized.
If you notice that you clench or grind during the day, position the tip of your tongue between your teeth. This practice trains your jaw muscles to relax. Relax your jaw muscles at night by holding a warm washcloth against your cheek in front of your earlobe.
While watching yourself in a mirror, gently open and close your mouth, dropping your jaw straight up and down. Repeat for a few minutes each morning and night. Look for small improvements in the jaw's range of motion as you practice this exercise from day to day.