Migraines and headaches affect thousands of people in the UK and often, dental treatment can help to ease tension. If you find yourself waking up with a headache most days or suffering with terrible migraines, we may be able to help.

What causes headaches and migraines?

There are many things that can trigger migraines and cause headaches and in some cases, dental issues may be to blame. Problems with the bite and teeth grinding can lead to tension in the muscles and a host of other symptoms. Tooth grinding is commonly linked to anxiety or stress, problems which affect many people. Most people who grind their teeth are unaware that they do it because it happens as a subconscious action during the night and symptoms include tooth wear and damage, stiffness and pain in the jaw, headaches and restricted movement in and around the jaw.

An uneven or imbalanced bite can also increase the risk of tooth grinding or clenching and orthodontic treatment or restorative treatment could be beneficial in this case.

Treating headaches

One treatment we may recommend for headaches in cases where bruxism (teeth grinding) is involved is a specially designed mouth guard, which is worn at night. The guard helps to prevent the lower and upper sets of teeth coming together and protects the teeth, as well as reducing tension in the facial muscles.

We can also offer advice about coping with stress.