Consumer Articles

Can bruxism cause headaches? Bruxism is the involuntary grinding, gnashing, or clenching of teeth and it can happen during sleep or while you’re awake. When this grinding or clenching becomes associated with headache symptoms, it’s referred to as a “bruxism headache”. Here’s what you need to know about the different kinds of headaches associated with bruxism and what you can do to get relief.

New jaw pain after dental injection may be from nerve damage, but it’s more likely to be a warning sign of an underlying TMJ injury. This is because nerve damage from an injection is extremely rare, and if it occurs, the presenting symptoms are numbness and tingling, rather than jaw pain. A more common cause of new jaw pain after a dental procedure is sprain/strain to the jaw joint and muscles.

There are many different types of temporomandibular (TMJ) disorders, so the best mouth guard for TMJ pain depends on your underlying condition. There are two major sources of TMJ pain; the joint itself and the surrounding muscles. It’s important to know the difference, because the choice for the best TMJ mouth guard is different between the two.

Why do SSRIs cause jaw clenching? While the exact mechanism is unknown, it appears that SSRIs trigger jaw clenching because of their effect on the level of neurotransmitters like serotonin in the brain. These neurotransmitters control mood, but they also contribute to movement regulation.

If you have a jaw injury, you might be wondering, “Do I use ice or heat for TMJ pain?”. While much depends on the type of injury or temporomandibular joint (TMJ) condition you have, using both is often optimal. Here we break down the rationale for using ice, heat, or both for TMJ pain.

Whiplash injury symptoms classically involve the neck, but can whiplash cause TMJ pain? Because the connection between whiplash and TMJ disorders was considered controversial in the past, TMJ pain is among the most common untreated whiplash symptoms. Now there is mounting evidence of a strong association between whiplash and TMJ disorders, with some studies showing that close to 25% of people with whiplash injuries have coincident TMJ pain. If you have had a whiplash injury and are having jaw pain, here’s what you need to know.

If you have jaw pain after a car accident, it may be one of the symptoms of whiplash. The sudden acceleration deceleration in a car accident causes hyperflexion and hyperextension in the neck. This whipping motion can also affect the jaw, causing TMJ disc displacement, strain of the TMJ ligaments, and injury to the TMJ muscles. Jaw pain after a car accident needs to be taken seriously because it is a risk factor for developing a chronic TMJ pain disorder. Here’s what you need to know about the causes and treatment of jaw pain after a car accident.

Persistent jaw pain after the dentist is something to take seriously. While local inflammation of the gums, soreness of the jaw muscles, and tooth sensitivity can be normal in the days after a dental procedure, prolonged jaw pain for more than a week could be indicating an injury to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Prolonged jaw pain is a serious issue because untreated jaw pain is a risk factor for the development of chronic TMJ pain disorders.

Jaw rest for TMJ pain is one of the most important self-care measures for those who suffer from temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. Here we discuss three important jaw rest measures: the TMJ rest position, TMJ mouthguards, and a TMJ diet.

Can Botox help TMJ pain? The answer is yes! Because temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain is frequently associated with jaw muscle tension, Botox injections for TMJ pain makes logical sense. Further, Botox may help more than just muscle tension, interrupting the neurobiological processes that perpetuate chronic pain. Botox for TMJ pain is considered a safe and effective treatment option when conservative treatments fail.