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Neuromuscular Dentistry: The Answer for Headache Sufferers?
Author: Everett Sizemore

Chronic headaches are a problem for many thousands of Americans, yet the vast majority never fully pinpoints the cause of their pain. Headaches can be caused by stress, poor posture, how you sleep, how many hours per day you spend looking at a computer screen, or any number of variables. Often, someone will visit a few doctors and chiropractors before giving up and resigning to a life of chronic headache pain. However, there is usually one stone left to be turned…

Neuromuscular Dentistry

In simple terms, neuromuscular dentistry works with your jaw, rather than just the teeth and gums. By repositioning your misaligned jaw, a neuromuscular dentist may be able to relieve headaches, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), neck and shoulder pain, and a number of other symptoms related to temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ).

TMJ (or TMD) is a degenerative disease wherein the jaw is not properly aligned. Symptoms arise from the body’s constant struggle to force the jaw into a position that is neither natural nor optimal.

This struggle usually occurs while you sleep, in the form of teeth grinding. Not only are your jaws clenched together for long periods of time, but they also begin to move back and forth, or from side to side. This places enormous strain on your temporomandibular joints, and may be the cause of severe headaches throughout the day.

According to Florida Dentist, Dr. Gary Kodish, the simple mouth guards prescribed by many dentists merely stop or minimize damage to the teeth caused by grinding them together. They do not actually keep your jaws from clenching or moving into painful positions while you sleep. Dr. Kodish prefers to use a tension suppression system designed to minimize clenching and grinding. Patients using this device not only save their teeth from damage caused by clenching and grinding, but may also sleep better, and wake up feeling refreshed and headache-free.

TMJ may or may not be causing your chronic headaches, but you should consult with a neuromuscular dentist before resigning to a life of headache pain.