How a TMJ Specialist Can Help You Find Relief from Persistent Headaches

Nearly everyone experiences a headache at least once in their life, and they’re relatively common. These occasional headaches can interfere with our work and how we feel overall, but can also typically be managed with basic pain relief and over-the-counter medication.

When headaches like migraines or tension headaches are a regular occurrence, however, you might need to dig deeper to find out what’s causing them. For example, complex conditions like disorders of the TMD, bruxism, or sleep apnea can all contribute to recurrent persistent headaches, but require accurate and detailed diagnoses to develop the appropriate treatment. 

TMJ specialists like Dr. Katherine S. Phillips and Dr. YC Joseph FischerHahm of Restore TMJ and Sleep Therapy in The Woodlands, Texas, are uniquely equipped to identify, diagnose, and treat persistent headaches. Specializing in dental sleep and orofacial pain, Dr. Phillips and Dr. Joe have extensive knowledge in the physiological functions that can contribute to persistent headaches, as well as access to a well-established network of referrals and trusted medical providers that allows her to develop the comprehensive treatment plans patients need for long-lasting relief from their pain.

Types of Headaches: Occasional vs. Persistent

Headaches are not the same for everyone, and understanding their differences can help you manage them effectively.

Occasional Headaches 

These are typically short-lived and often result from specific triggers like stress, dehydration, or dietary choices. Occasional headaches may also include tension headaches, characterized by a squeezing or tight band-like feeling around the head. Sinus headaches are another common type. Infections or sinus congestion can cause pressure around the eyes, cheeks, and forehead, leading to painful headaches. 

Occasional headaches can generally be relieved with rest, hydration, over-the-counter pain relievers, or by addressing their specific triggers. 

Persistent Headaches 

Unlike occasional headaches, persistent ones are chronic and can last for hours, days, or weeks. Debilitating cycles of chronic tension headaches or migraines may occur as many as 15 or more days a month. Migraines may include other symptoms like nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light or sound, making it difficult to function. These conditions can significantly impact the quality of your daily life and require a comprehensive approach to identify and treat them. Finding lasting relief from chronic headaches begins with identifying the root causes.

Common Causes of Headaches

Understanding the triggers behind headaches is also critical to managing and preventing them. Some of the most common causes of headaches include:

• Stress and tension: Everyday stress and pressure can lead to tension-type headaches. From work to kids, stress can build up, causing occasional or persistent headaches. Relaxation techniques and stress management strategies can help prevent them.

• Diet and nutrition: Certain foods and drinks, such as caffeine, alcohol, processed foods, and artificial additives, can trigger occasional headaches or migraines. Maintaining a balanced diet and avoiding trigger foods can help prevent your head from hurting.

• Allergies and illnesses: Allergic reactions and viral infections can lead to sinus headaches. Inflammation and congestion in the sinus cavities can cause pain and sensitivity in your cheeks, nose, and forehead. Treating the underlying allergies or illnesses can provide relief.

• Dehydration: Not drinking enough water or fluids can cause dehydration, leading to headaches. 

• Eyestrain: Prolonged screen time or reading in poor lighting can strain the eye muscles, resulting in tension headaches. Take breaks while using your devices or reading to give your eyes a rest.

• Lack of sleep: Inadequate or poor-quality sleep disrupts the body’s natural rhythm and can trigger headaches. Establish a consistent sleep schedule and create a peaceful sleep environment to improve the quality of your rest.

• Hormonal changes: Hormonal fluctuations, such as those during menstruation, pregnancy, or menopause, can trigger migraines in some people. Managing hormonal balance and stress can reduce their frequency.

• Posture: Forward head posture and poor ergonomic set-up at work can cause increased muscle tension.

The Connection Between TMJ Disorders and Persistent Headaches

While occasional headaches often have clear reasons behind them, it can be more complicated to identify the causes of persistent headaches. One of the most commonly overlooked causes of persistent headaches is the health of your temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which connects your jaw to your skull.

TMJ problems can happen for different reasons, such as an injury to your jaw, arthritis, or grinding your teeth. When your TMJ is not working properly, it can lead to many other issues, including persistent headaches.

Disorders of the TMJ, or TMD, can contribute to chronic tension headaches and migraines. If the TMJ becomes misaligned or is under too much stress from teeth grinding, it can create tension in the muscles around the head, face, and neck that then radiates upward, leading to persistent pain and headaches.

Studies have established a clear link between TMJ disorders and headaches, so addressing TMJ-related issues can not only reduce head pain but can also improve jaw function and overall quality of life.

Exploring Other Contributing Factors to Persistent Headaches

Persistent headaches often have complex, multifactorial causes. In addition to TMJ disorders, several other conditions can contribute to chronic and persistent headaches, including snoring, bruxism, and sleep apnea.

Bruxism (Teeth Grinding)

Bruxism is the unconscious grinding or clenching of teeth. A common condition, it often occurs during sleep. The habit of grinding leads to jaw pain, tension in the facial muscles, and headaches, particularly upon waking in the morning.

Snoring

Habitual snoring can disrupt both the snorer’s sleep and that of their partner. This disturbance in sleep patterns can lead to sleep deprivation, a common trigger for morning headaches. Additionally, snoring can be related to sleep apnea, a sleep disorder linked to migraines and persistent headaches.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep. These interruptions can lead to reduced oxygen levels, which may be one cause of morning headaches. They also prevent the deep, restorative sleep we need, causing sleep deprivation and headaches. Sleep apnea is a significant factor in persistent headaches and requires proper diagnosis and treatment.

When to Seek Help for Headaches

Persistent headaches can significantly interfere with your daily life and well-being. It may be time to seek professional help if you are experiencing headaches that:

• Worsen or don’t improve after taking over-the-counter medications as directed
• Are more severe or occur more frequently than usual
• Interfere with your work, sleep, or other normal activities
• Are become a source of distress or worry

*Note: Seek immediate emergency medical attention if you are experiencing a sudden, severe headache that is accompanied by one or more of the following symptoms:

• Nausea or vomiting (not related to a hangover or the flu)
• Trouble seeing, speaking, or walking
• Fainting, confusion, or trouble understanding speech
• Numbness, weakness, or paralysis on one side of your body
• A stiff neck
• A higher fever greater than 102 F - 104 F

How a TMJ Specialist Can Help with Your Persistent Headaches

With extensive experience and expertise in the neuromuscular system of the face, neck, and jaw, as well as training in the physiological function of this area of the body, TMJ specialists like Dr. Phillips offer a unique set of skills, resources, and knowledge for addressing persistent headaches. Not only do they understand how the bones, muscles, and joints are supposed to work, but they also know how to identify and safely correct irregularities to restore proper function.

TMJ specialists like Dr. Phillips can help treat your persistent headaches with:

Accurate Diagnosis: TMJ specialists are uniquely trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of TMJ disorders, snoring, bruxism, and sleep apnea, all of which contribute to persistent headaches. They can provide a thorough evaluation, including physical examinations and diagnostic imaging, which can help find the root cause of your headaches.

Customized Treatment Plans: TMJ specialists can develop personalized treatment plans tailored to your needs. These plans may include physical therapy to reduce muscle tension and appliances for bite realignment.

Dental Appliances: In cases where bruxism or sleep apnea contribute to headaches, a TMJ specialist can provide custom dental appliances like splints or mouthguards to address teeth grinding and improve sleep quality.

Comprehensive Care: TMJ specialists like Dr. Phillips are also dentists with extensive experience in sleep disorders. Their knowledge and willingness to collaborate with other healthcare professionals ensure a holistic approach to headache management and care, ensuring you receive a more effective and well-rounded treatment strategy.

By seeking the expertise of a TMJ specialist for recurrent persistent headaches, you are more likely to determine the root cause of your discomfort sooner as well as start on a comprehensive treatment plan that is more likely to produce effective, lasting results.

Find Lasting Relief from Your Persistent Headaches Today with Restore TMJ & Sleep Therapy

Whether your headaches are occasional or persistent, finding relief is possible, and seeking help is the first step. 

Dr. Phillips and Dr. Joe of Restore TMJ & Sleep Therapy specializes in diagnosing and treating a wide range of conditions that could be contributing to your persistent headaches, including snoring, bruxism, orofacial pain, sleep apnea, and TMJ disorders. For over 15 years, they have been helping patients both across the country and within the greater Houston area experience real pain relief and an improved quality of life.

If you or a loved one are experiencing persistent headaches that are disrupting your life and keeping you from enjoying the things you used to, schedule a consultation with Dr. Phillips or Dr. Joe at Restore TMJ & Sleep Therapy in The Woodlands today and start finding a solution.