What are the Symptoms of a TMJ Headache?

Unfortunately, yes. Headaches and migraines are common TMJ symptoms. Inflammation of your TMJs, combined with muscle tension in your jaw, can trigger migraines, earaches, facial pain, and other TMJ symptoms. 

If you suffer from TMJ, chances are your headaches and migraines are caused by this condition. TMJ migraines may feel somewhat like a tension headache, but other symptoms often accompany them:  

• Jaw pain.
• Earache.
• Loss of jaw mobility.   
• Grinding noises when you move your jaw.
• Tenderness and inflammation of your TMJ.

TMJ headaches that morph into migraines may also produce nausea, dizziness, fatigue, and sensitivity to light. Dr. Balaji will consider all aspects of your oral health to pinpoint the cause of your TMJ disorder and relieve your headache pain.

TMJ migraines can last hours, a day, or even longer. They start to diminish when jaw muscles relax and swelling subsides.

TMJ disorders can be triggered by stress, jaw clenching, teeth grinding, arthritis in your jaw, jaw alignment problems, malocclusion, and jaw injuries. Finding the cause of your TMJ is key to getting long-term TMJ headache pain relief. Some options for treatment include:

• Prescription pain medications, anti-inflammatories, or muscle relaxants to ease muscle tension and pain
• Jaw exercises to strengthen your jaw, relax tense muscles, and improve jaw mobility to ease TMJ flareups that can lead to migraines.   
• Eating a soft food diet to ease jaw tension caused by chewing. 
• Using a mouthguard or splint to correct jaw alignment issues that cause jaw clenching and teeth grinding are two activities that can trigger migraines. 
• If a bad bite causes your TMJ disorder, orthodontics can correct this problem permanently to cure you of this condition and its symptoms.   

As a last resort, Dr. Balaji may perform jaw surgery to correct jaw misalignment issues causing TMJ symptoms.