You know that your body’s all one interconnected system. You might have had a knee problem, favored that knee, and then ended up with back pain, for example. Medical experts even have a name for issues in one area caused by a root problem in another: referred pain.
When you’re dealing with headaches, the issue might not be localized to where you feel the pain. In fact, plenty of wide-ranging things can cause headaches, from dehydration to muscle tightness in your neck and shoulders.
If you’re dealing with persistent headaches, then, you could be searching for the source. In some cases, bite alignment issues can contribute to head pain.
If you’ve been trying to solve your headaches, see Thomas D. Sokoly, DDS, at Sokoly Dental in Washington, DC. He offers orthodontic care like Invisalign® and is experienced in helping people with bite issues.
Studies show there’s a connection between bite misalignment and recurring headaches.
Specifically, research has linked the following misaligned bite types to persistent head pain:
When your teeth don’t match together well when you bite down, it forces the muscles in your face and jaw to work harder when you chew. The added strain can take its toll, leading to headaches that keep coming back.
In addition, bite misalignment can contribute to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder (an issue with the joint that hinges your jaw). Headaches are a common symptom of TMJ.
Usually, if your headache comes from a bite issue, you experience some other warning signs, too. Those might include:
You might not have all of those other symptoms. However, if you think you might have an overbite, overjet, or posterior crossbite and you’ve been dealing with headaches, talk to Dr. Sokoly. He can help determine if your bite might be the culprit.
If it is, he may offer Invisalign to correct it. That means you can fix your bite and soothe your headaches with clear plastic aligners instead of a mouth full of metal.
Don’t let persistent headaches ruin your days. To have Dr. Sokoly check your bite and see if it’s the cause of the recurring issue, call our Washington, DC, office or book an appointment online today.
