The pressure, pain and discomfort of headaches affect almost all of us at some point in our lives, and an estimated 80% of all headaches are classified as tension headaches.

What is a tension headache?

Also known as stress headaches, tension headaches are mainly the result of muscle tension building up due to factors such as anxiety, stress, inadequate rest, and fatigue or hunger. However, since these factors are primarily related to muscle tension your dental habits may be directly contributing to the frequency, severity and duration of your headaches.

If you have frequent headaches characterized by sore jaw muscles (especially in the morning), pain behind the eyes, clicking or popping jaw joints or pain in the head or scalp contact Central Dental today. We have dental offices in Little Rock, Jacksonville and Conway with renowned dentists Todd Stewart, Kyle Dalton and Ed Passini who have a combined total of over 60 years in the dental field.

So, how can your jaw, gums and teeth contribute to your headaches?

For starters, your jaw contains some of the most hardworking muscles in your body. Every time you swallow, speak, eat or yawn your jaw muscles are working to make sure your mouth moves properly. Eventually, these muscles can become strained and tired, especially if you are prone to clenching or grinding your teeth. In fact, these behaviors are common even while sleeping and often are the cause of morning headaches.

However, your jaw isn’t the only culprit when it comes to headaches. Most heads weigh roughly 15 pounds, or the size of an average bowling ball. The job of constantly supporting your head falls to your spine, and these muscles have to work even harder if muscles in your jaw or next have been shortened by stress and tension. So, if you have tension in one muscle it can quickly cause stress in others, which can in turn make the original pain even worse.

When should you see a doctor, and when should you see a dentist?

If you have any of the symptoms above when you get headache, especially if you feel a constant soreness in your jaw muscles, your headaches are likely linked to the behavior of your dental muscles. At Central Dental we can help you remedy your bite and provide therapy to take pressure off your jaw muscles and make these muscles not have to be so overworked that they cause pain. If you have any symptoms from jaw pain in Little Rock to toothaches in Conway to headaches in Jacksonville make an appointment at Central Dental today to take a stand for your own long-term dental health and comfort.