The connection between migraines and toothaches

1. Can migraines
cause tooth pain?

2. Introduction
One billion people across the globe suffer from migraines, While migraines aren’t a specific oral disease, they can be
related to tooth pain and certain conditions causing oral or facial pain.

3. What is a migraine?
A migraine is more than a powerful headache – it’s a debilitating neurological disorder. In fact, a headache is only a
symptom of a migraine, which can result in acute pain throbbing on either or both sides of your head.

4. Symptoms of chronic
migraines
● Experience nausea, dizziness, vomiting, facial tingling or numbness, and sensitivity to light and sound during an
episode – which might last for four hours to as long as three days
● Have up to 15 days per month marred by a migraine
● Miss multiple days of work or school
● Increase the risk of other conditions such as depression and anxiety

5. Temporomandibular Joint Disorder
TMJ, or temporomandibular joint disorder, results when the modified ball and socket joint connecting your upper and
lower jaw doesn’t function correctly. The joint’s main purpose is to move the lower jaw in three directions: forward,
backward and side-to-side. TMJ can feel as though your jaw clicks and pops or as if it becomes momentarily stuck.
TMJ symptoms include:
● Severe headaches or migraines
● Clicking or popping sounds
● Tender jaw muscles
● Earaches and toothaches

6. Teeth grinding & clenching
You might experience bruxism, the act of grinding or clenching your teeth, only while asleep or perhaps throughout the
day. Bruxism can be caused by stress, misaligned teeth, or nerve and muscle diseases in the face.
Bruxism symptoms can include:
● Morning headaches
● Migraines
● Grinding sounds at night
● Tight jaw muscles
● Cracked or damaged teeth, leading to tooth pain

7. Toothaches
If the pain and stress of a toothache are severe enough, migraines might result. Also, as we noted earlier, migraines can
cause dental pain. This is due to a nerve injury related to both conditions.

8. Conclusion
Talk to our team at Brookwater Dental to see if it’s an oral problem. Our team of dental professionals can either treat the
pain or recommend a medical consultation. We want whatever is best for you to feel better and for you to smile more.