Serving patients of Erwin, Jonesborough, and Greeneville, TN
Do you suffer from frequent headaches of severe intensity? If so, you have probably searched high and low for relief from these debilitating headaches, yet to no avail. It is likely that your headaches keep resurfacing, and usually do so with greater intensity, only to discover you are merely band-aiding the pain.
This is often the case with many patients who suffer from chronic headaches or migraines. They go to their primary care physician for an exam, and the doctor prescribes specific medication targeted at treating these types of headaches. There is only one problem with this scenario, albeit the pain goes away, but your headaches keep reappearing. Frequent headaches can often interfere with your ability to function throughout your daily life.
It could be TMJ disorder that is causing your pain.
This page will explain the relationship between TMJ disorder and headaches, although the topic is much easily understood in a face-to-face conversation with your Greeneville neuromuscular dentist at Tusculum Dental Care. We invite you to schedule your consultation today to learn more about TMJ disorder and headaches, and to get treatment for your reoccurring headaches. However, we provided some useful information below to help get you started.
How TMJ Causes Headaches
The temporomandibular joints, which are the jaw joints, has one of the body’s most prominent nerve running through it– the trigeminal nerve. In fact, the trigeminal nerve carries more sensory input than any other nerve in the entire body, even the spinal cord. It is responsible for transmitting commands for the facial and oral muscles, but it also transmits pain whenever it arises. It is also responsible for involuntary functions such as controlling the safety and comfort of the brain, which includes blood supply, as well as air pressure to the Eustachian tubes (in the ears).
The role of this prominent nerve sounds amazing, but unfortunately, its proximity to the temporomandibular joint is often the result of widespread pain throughout the head, neck, body. Once your jaw is relaxed in its natural position, the pain associated with TMJ disorder will subside, relieving this nerve of any inflammation or restricted blood flow.
Eliminate TMJ disorder, eliminate headaches
When TMJ disorder occurs, it irritates the trigeminal nerve, resulting in headaches. Instead of masking headache pain with medication, the best bet for a cure is to treat the problem at the source by correcting the jaw misalignment. Once the jaw is held in proper alignment, the muscles of the temporomandibular joint can relax, relieving pressure and irritation of the trigeminal nerve. The mouth has to work together with the jaw muscles in order for there to be harmony among the muscles, joints, and nerves.
Think of it like tires on your vehicle. Your car would not drive well if it were in desperate need of a wheel alignment. The car would still go, although it would do so in distress, causing the tires and other wheel components to break down and become worn out much quicker than if the wheels aligned properly. But, what happens once you take your car in for a wheel alignment? Suddenly, it drives much smoother without all the noise and jerking motions that it had before.
Get the picture?
TMJ Relief in Greeneville
Our jaw joints must be properly aligned for everything else to work as it should. If you are experiencing pain or discomfort associated with TMJ disorder, please contact the office of Tusculum Dental Care today by calling (423) 639-7575 to schedule a consultation.
Tusculum Dental Care is proud to offer our services to patients in the areas of Greeneville, Jonesborough, and Erwin, Tennessee.