by Dr. C Lun Wang | Oct 27, 2019 | Uncategorized
There are so many reasons why someone may be suffering from
head pain. Headaches, migraines and other pain are symptoms of dozens of
different problems. The one thing that they all have in common is the desire
for effective head pain treatment by the person suffering. One less known but
common cause of head pain is the presence of old dental fillings and crowns.
Headaches and Dental
Problems
Headaches are a common symptom of a wide range of dental
problems. The human nervous system is complex and interconnected, meaning pain
or stimulation in one area can cause sensations in others. You may have never
thought that previous dental work could be causing your head pain, but amalgam
fillings and old crowns could be the culprit.
First, old amalgam fillings were done using a combination of
metals. overtime, these metals can break down and become damaged. This can lead to the filling becoming lose,
and putting unwanted pressure on the nerves around the site. This stimulation
can travel up these nerves, and the result can be a headache or even a
migraine.
Damaged fillings and crowns can also affect your bite. If
they are no longer fitting just right, you may have a bite that does not line
up. This can put further wear on your teeth, stress on your TMJ, and even cause
bruxism. These can work alone, or together, to be the cause of your head pain.
If you suffer from headaches, you may benefit from seeing a
TMJ specialist to help determine the cause and find a way to overcome them.
Visit BC Headpain today to get started on your journey to healing.
by Dr. C Lun Wang | Sep 24, 2019 | Uncategorized
Almost every one of us has experienced a headache, or other head pain in our lives. Many of us have also experienced a severe and possibly debilitating migraine. Head pain can be extremely uncomfortable and burdensome, so it becomes important to learn about the cause and remedy this as quickly as possible. Your dentist may actual be pivotal in diagnosing head pain and finding those migraine triggers. Here are some possible oral causes for head pain that your dentist and head pain specialist could help to determine.
Temporomandibular
Joint Disorder (TMJ)
The temporomandibular joint as the joint that connects your
jaw to the rest of your skull. This is a fairly complex joint, as it allows for
not only strong biting, but movement in several directions. Overuse or damage
to this joint can cause pain to travel up your head, causing head pain or even
migraines.
Toothaches
Another common cause of head pain is deferred pain from a toothache. Toothaches may be caused by a number of reasons, but most commonly result from cavities, root issues, or gum disease. The stimulation of the nerve near your tooth can cause pain to travel, presenting as head pain or migraines. Your dentist will be able to examine your teeth and gums as part of your regular checkup and determine if any decay or other problems could be causing your head pain.
Bruxism
Bruxism is the fancy way of referring to the grinding or
clenching of teeth. Many people are not even aware that they may grind or
clench their sleep, whether during the day or even while asleep. There are many
causes for bruxism, including stress, alcohol and caffeine consumption, or
misaligned teeth. Head pain and even migraines are common symptoms of bruxism,
and your dentist will be able to examine your teeth for signs of wear, and indications
that you are grinding or clenching.
The human body is a complex and connected system. When one
part experiences problems, it can have wide reaching effects. Dentists are able
to diagnose possible causes for your head pain, and help you get back to
feeling yourself.
by Dr. C Lun Wang | Aug 25, 2019 | Uncategorized
For those experiencing whiplash trauma, there is a high
chance that whiplash will induce TMJ symptoms. Many people are not aware of
what whiplash induced TMJ, and the need for a neck pain specialist to help with
managing symptoms.
What is TMJ Pain?
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the joint in which the
jaw connects to the rest of the skull. This is a complicated joint, especially
when considering the number of different movements it is capable of moving, and
the fine muscles it needs to accomplish this. When these muscles, or the
surrounding ligaments, discs or bones are damaged, such as in the event of
whiplash, the result can be a painful TMJ syndrome.
TMJ syndrome can carry many painful symptoms with it,
including head and neck pain, ear pain, headaches and migraines, and even
difficulty chewing, and speaking. When people experience whiplash, they may not
realize that head or neck pain is the result of TMJ damage, and this is where
whiplash treatment by a neck pain specialist is needed.
Neck Pain Specialist
A neck pain specialist, such as those at BC Headpain, is
able to properly assess your pain and determine if it is caused by whiplash
induced TMJ. With a proper diagnosis, a thorough treatment plan can be
recommended, and steps towards healing and ridding yourself of chronic pain can
be realized.
If you have suffered from whiplash, and continue to have
symptoms in line with TMJ syndrome, make sure to contact BC Headpain today.
by Dr. C Lun Wang | Jul 29, 2019 | Uncategorized
Can Tooth Extraction Cause Pain?
Answer: There is likely to be some degree of discomfort caused by a tooth distraction.
Often a tooth extraction is a necessary treatment, whether
its to relieve a crowded mouth, or remove wisdom teeth. While the extraction of
teeth has not been shown to directly cause head pain, there are some related
factors that may result in head pain, such as:
- Surgery Recovery
- Jaw Pain
- Stress
Surgery Recovery
As with any surgery, even minor ones such as tooth
extraction, there will be some degree of damage and discomfort. This pain could
be caused by soft tissue damage within your mouth, as a result of being cut
during tooth extraction. This pain is often localized pain, but may become a
headache or migraine.
Jaw Pain
With any dental treatment, especially tooth extraction, the
jaw is forced to open wide and held there for an extended period of time. This creates
stress on the muscles, or even muscle tearing. Jaw Pain is a primary candidate
for causing migraines and other head pain, and tooth extraction could lead to
this.
Stress and Anxiety
Finally, the stress of having a tooth extracted may cause
anxiety which leads to grinding and clenching of teeth. Other pain from after
the procedure could further exacerbate this, leading to further head pain.
Head Pain Treatment
If you are suffering from head pain after a tooth
extraction, you should seek out head pain treatment from a head pain specialist
in Surrey. If the pain is located where the tooth used to reside, there may be
other issues such as infection and it is important to get checked out. If you
have other head pain, there may be treatments and remedies available to help
you with this, and get you back on your feet.
by Dr. C Lun Wang | Jun 25, 2019 | Uncategorized
If you are suffering from chronic or constant headaches, you may not realize that it could actually be tied to your oral health. Dental health and dental pain may actually be the reason for that headache. Headaches and dental pain have a lot in common, and finding that headache relief or head pain cure may require dealing with an oral health issue.
Pain as a result of a headache and/or toothache are both
transmitted through the same nerve, the Trigeminal nerve. This nerve is the
largest peripheral nerve in your head, and innervates the face, jaw, teeth and
other oral structures.
Nerves, especially the Trigeminal nerve, can be long with
many branches, or dendrites. This means that stimuli at one point can be
carried and stimulate the nerve at other points. This cascading effect is
likely to trigger a headache. This means that when a tooth is aching, as a
result of a cavity or other oral health issue, this pain is transmitted down
the nerve, and a headache may result.
This close anatomical link through this nerve is one
probable connection between headaches and tooth pain. Other factors that may
lead to migraines and head pain, based on anatomical positioning and
closeness, are jaw clenching, and neck tension. These, along with the previous
factors, make it difficult to decipher the exact cause of your migraine.
Thankfully, a dentist will be able to examine your mouth and teeth and help to determine if any dental pain may be resulting in head pain. Headache relief may be just a visit to the dentist away, so if you are suffering from migraines or chronic head pain, make sure you get your oral health examined.
by Dr. C Lun Wang | May 28, 2019 | Uncategorized
Answer: Your headache could be caused by your jaw and teeth clenching. Here’s why:
When you think of a headache, you probably think about pain on the top or the side of your head. What we do not think of is that our jaws may be to blame. Clenched teeth are a common cause of many headaches or migraines. These are often referred to as dental headaches.
How does clenching
teeth cause headaches?
The joint that connects your jaw to your skull is called
the temporomandibular joint, or the TMJ for short. As with any joint, the TMJ
has muscles connecting to both sides of it, allowing it to open and close,
giving you the ability to talk and chew. It is these very muscles that could
be the cause of your headaches.
When you grind or clench your teeth, the muscles involved
are tightened. This tightening can result in pain which is transmitted or
deferred to other places in your head, ultimately causing a headache like
sensation. If this is severe or chronic, it can also be referred to a
migraine.
How to avoid a
clenched teeth headache
To ease or even avoid a dental headache, you will want to
make sure that you keep your TMJ muscles from becoming tight and sore. This
can be achieved through chiropractic treatment, basic stretching, and massage.
You should also consult with your dentist to make sure that improperly aligned
teeth or other dental diseases are not contributing to your pain.
If you have been suffering from headaches, or even
migraines, make sure that you consider that it could be a dental headache. If
you are unsure, make sure you seek out professional help, and find the relief that
you deserve.
