Bite Misalignment and Headaches

Understanding the Connection Between Bite Misalignment and Headaches

Are frequent headaches disrupting your day? While stress, sleep deprivation, and fluctuating caffeine levels are common culprits, have you considered that an uneven bite may be the root cause? Surprisingly, malocclusion—a misaligned bite—can indeed result in headaches.

If this scenario sounds familiar, join Dr. Amy Khajavi as she explores this prevalent issue.

The first step to addressing it is non-surgically aligning the upper and lower jaws through orthopedics. This process is crucial for both aesthetics and functionality, potentially even impacting a child’s cognitive development and reducing the risk of early cardiac arrest. Once aligned, your teeth might naturally settle or require minor orthodontic adjustments.

How Misaligned Bites Can Lead to Headaches

Misaligned teeth or dental arches can cause multiple problems, including headaches. Malocclusions such as underbites, crossbites, open bites, and overbites may lead to jaw pain, muscle tension, and head pain. But how does this misalignment trigger headaches?

If your teeth don’t align correctly, your jaw can’t relax when your mouth is closed. With malocclusion, your jaw muscles remain tense, resulting in tension headaches, jaw pain, uneven tooth wear, or even fractured teeth.

The connection between your jaw and head involves muscles, nerves, and joints. A misaligned bite forces your muscles to work harder when closing your mouth, chewing, or aligning your teeth. This extra strain can cause muscle tension and headaches.

Types of Malocclusion That May Cause Headaches:

• Overbite: Occurs when your upper teeth significantly overlap the lower ones. While a slight overbite is normal, a deep bite can cause front teeth wear, jaw pain, headaches, and facial tension.
• Underbite: Opposite to an overbite, an underbite happens when the lower teeth extend past the upper ones. This can lead to jaw pain, TMJ dysfunction, chewing difficulties, and may even contribute to sleep apnea.
• Overjet: Often mistaken for an overbite, an overjet is when the upper front teeth noticeably extend past the lower ones, sometimes referred to as “buck teeth.” This misalignment increases the risk of injury to the top front teeth and can cause jaw joint pain.
• Crossbite: Occurs when the upper teeth rest inside the lower teeth. It can appear at the front or back of the mouth, leading to asymmetric jaw development in children and jaw pain, TMJ issues, and chewing difficulties in both kids and adults.

Teeth Grinding and TMJ Headaches

These malocclusions can lead to teeth grinding, or bruxism, often occurring during sleep. Grinding might be an unconscious attempt to correct the bite but puts considerable pressure on the temporomandibular joints (TMJs), resulting in TMJ dysfunction, headaches, jaw pain, and neck, shoulder, or ear muscle tension.

If you frequently experience headaches from teeth grinding, it’s time to contact us at The Brace Place for a complimentary initial consultation.

Addressing Malocclusion to Relieve Headaches

Dr. Amy will evaluate:

• Jaw and teeth alignment
• Uneven tooth wear
• Jaw pain or clicking sounds
• Chewing or biting difficulties

If we identify malocclusion, like an overbite, as the source of your persistent headaches, orthodontic treatment could significantly reduce your discomfort. Braces and clear aligners not only enhance your smile but also correct bite misalignments and alleviate associated headaches.

Bid Farewell to Malocclusion-Induced Headaches

If you suspect malocclusion is causing your headaches, All Natural Dentistry is here to help. With over 20 years of expertise in orthopedic alignment of the jaw and bite correction, Dr. Amy combines modern technology and personalized care to provide effective treatment.