Is my teeth grinding causing my headaches?

Headaches are a nuisance, but when one comes from nowhere or first thing in the morning it’s even more of a problem. Where has this headache come from, and how can I make it go away? You’re not ill, dehydrated, or particularly partied-out, so what has caused this? There are plenty of random and mostly inconsequential aches and pains we experience, but your teeth could be causing these. At Lion Dental Centre in Stourbridge, we’d like to share with you our knowledge of dentistry and how your headaches could be prevented.

How does teeth grinding cause headaches?

Your headache could be stemming more specifically from how your jaw is forcing your teeth together. Grinding and clenching your teeth involuntarily and even in your sleep, also known as Bruxism, has a knock-on effect to their stability, your jaw, and even your body. When our upper and lower jaw don’t fit together properly, it causes all sorts of problems for our jaw joint and where it hinges onto the rest of the head. The pressure and tension created here travels both up and down our body to cause aches, pain, and stiffness in places you would never have suspected. Stiffness in your back and shoulders, for example, could be a symptom of teeth clenching too.

How will I know about my teeth grinding?

If you’re noticing your jaw audibly or physically clicking, like its catching on something, then you’re probably grinding your teeth. Building tension in your temples, headaches, and muscle pain in your jaw and cheeks are indicators of teeth grinding too. Because your lower jaw joint hinges onto your head, grinding sends shockwaves through both of these parts of the body. They can also travel back down your body, through to your shoulders and neck. Your teeth may also begin to feel sensitive, loose in the gums, and achy. They could be sensitive to brushing, biting, and chewing.

This is what’s causing your teeth grinding

The way your jaw and teeth fit together is commonly the reason for grinding and clenching. Known as your dental occlusion, or bite, these formations can cause our teeth to sit together wrongly and push them out of place. Sometimes crooked teeth affect our bite, and sometimes our biological predisposition of an over- or under- bite causes this grinding. Missing teeth, crooked teeth, and misaligned teeth are all common culprits when concerning teeth grinding.

This is how we can help

Straightening wayward teeth can positively impact how your jaw fits together and moves. Dominant jaw functions like biting, chewing, and even resting with straight teeth are far more comfortable and easier than with crooked teeth. Even when sleeping and your jaw is at rest, crooked teeth force it to sit irregularly or uncomfortably. Lots of patients, particularly adult patients, aren’t particularly drawn to visible fixed braces, which we do offer, but we also offer discrete teeth straightening methods too. Invisalign, for example, are clear and removable, which are a great alternative for those seeking to cure their teeth grinding without others knowing.

Stop your teeth grinding today with our expert dentistry in Stourbridge. Enquire online or call 01384 376336 to book your appointment today.