Migraine

I've been thinking...I think my TMJ is more of a trigger than I'd like to admit! I definitely feel great tightness and click-clacking in my jaw when I wake with migraine (although I feel more stressed when the pain kicks in and my teeth clenching might begin after the migraine starts). Who knows??

I've been told in the past to 1)get my wisom teeth removed (impacted) and 2)to get a splint made for the front of my mouth to prevent clenching. Apparently, some doctors feel these things might help with the migraine frequency...

Anyone ever tried these things?

I saw a chiropractor and accupressurist for the TMJ stuff at one time, but the difficulties worsened!

Thoughts, anyone???
jenny

Well, if your wisdom teeth are impacted, that isn't a good thing, is it? I don't know much about the dental world, but that doesn't sound good. I'm not sure what impact it would have on your Migraine attacks other then put less "stress" on your already "stressed" body, due to problems with your teeth.

Some people have found a night guard for grinding their teeth very helpful, helping reduce their Migraine frequency.

But if a dentist tells you taking care of TMJ will "cure" Migraine disease, RUN!!

I had my wisdom teeth out before my head got completely out of control, so I can't help you there. But I do know that before my son had his out, the oral surgeon said that nothing good could come from leaving them there. Apparently, impacted wisdom teeth are prone to infection.

Joe had his teeth out on either a Thursday or a Friday, and he was fine by Monday. Be sure to take your pain meds on schedule and use ice as directed. He felt horrible the first day and a half, but then Advil took care of the pain and he didn't need opiods anymore.

I've worn a nightguard for years. I'm a big clencher, both during the night and during the day. It's a firm (not hard) plastic thing that fits over my bottom teeth. It has a cushioning effect. They custom make it after taking an impression of my lower teeth. I replace it about once a year.

It helps with my head, especially with the pain in my temples. My dentist charges me $125, and my dental insurance doesn't cover it. But it's worth it. I can tell when it's wearing out.

Gretchen

I've had TMJ forever and have even had oral surgery to try and correct it --a rapid palatel expansion (RPE)--20 years ago. I still have it but it is less than it was. I also have a dentist-made bite guard that I'm supposed to wear but don't. The reason I don't is that I'm a mouth breather and feel like I can't breathe with this thing in my mouth. I also found myself wanting to bite down MORE instead of less and it seemed to be making my jaw feel more tired.

The only time my TMJ really seems like a problem to me now is when I chew ice.
Yeah, I know, I should never do that but there is one type of really, REALLY good ice that is perfectly crunchy little pellets that shatter in the best way when you bite into them. I haven't had it as much this summer because the machine I used to get it from has been broken--wah! Truly, you could call me an Ice Addict. In fact, in the middle of a multi-day Migraine episode, sucking on banana popsicles or eating ice has always been a great soother for me....



.

I don't have TMJ, but I do have some experience with the wisdom teeth issue.

I had my wisdom teeth out about five years ago or so, right in the middle of lots and lots of migraine activity. The impact on my migraines was huge. The intensity and frequency both dropped off big-time once the teeth were out. Apparently, they were impinging on nerves and helping to trigger some of my migraines. It can indeed make a difference.

Well, yesterday I went to the dentist. I have wonderful teeth apparently. However, this is the third dentist to suggest that I get braces. I have been to an orthodontist in the past to talk about braces, my headaches, my TMJ, my crossbite and how they all work together to make me miserable. My jaw pops and cracks, I clench my teeth day & night, my muscles in my head are always sore and apparently they think it is all linked to my bite being off in the back of my mouth. I have two molars that are pushed in and rotated. They aren't visible from the front, so it's not a cosmetic issue, but it increases the amount of pressure put on my other teeth.

I am a medical student and this does make sense to me that such stress on the TMJ and the muscles in my head would trigger migraine. But....what if braces make it worse?

I have headaches several times a week. I have tried many medications and therapies without much success. I travel from KY to Chicago to see a neurologist. What do I do?

I am tired of every practitioner saying that their brand of medicine can FIX me. Why can't someone look at all of my issues and make a suggestion. I know medicine is not a perfect science and the body is SO very complex but I feel like no one is looking at the whole picture. They are just advocating the treatment they can perform.

Now that I'm finished rambling...has anyone tried braces while experiencing chronic daily headache?

I had braces when I was a lot younger (6th grade) but I'm not sure I had migraines then (I don't remember). I would think that having your teeth in the correct alignment would ultimatly help your migraines. Although, maybe during the time with the braces, could trigger. Since there is a lot of shifting going on, I could see it being a trigger too.

I had impacted wisdom teeth, which my dentist recommended I have cut out. I did so reluctantly and what do you know....it didn't help a darn thing! They weren't bothering me at all. The only reason I had them removed was the possibility of them helping the migraines, but no such luck......maybe you'll have a better experience than me!!

Sarah

If your dentist recommends removing impacted wisdom teeth, follow the recommendation. I'm very prone to infection in my mouth, so my experience with these extractions was really awful--but leaving them in would only have resulted in a worse infection.

I've never had TMJ, but I've had a bite guard for a number of years since I do tend to grind my teeth. I got it because the grinding was harming my teeth, leading to fracture lines, and ultimately to crowns. I've never gotten it replaced. I wasn't diagnosed with migraines until after I had it. So I can't speak to how any of these dental issues might affect migraines.

I have a TMJ disorder that was found when I was a teenager. I wore a night brace for awhile and now my chiro works on it and my dentist wants me to start a brace again (after my crown work is completed).

My jaw pops anytime I eat a sandwich or a bagel etc, causing me to open my mouth wider than normal.

I had all of my wisdom teeth removed in my twenties but it didn't stop the migraines, however, it did stop the crowding in my teeth

My son is getting all four of his wisdom teeth out next Friday because they are growing in at the wrong direction. Thankfully, he has a beautiful smile. Me, not so much! LOL!

Jenny - I just saw this... I know this is a really old thread, but I wanted to chime in on it. I have TMJ and clench really badly... I've been wearing a splint since high school. Mine is a hard splint for my upper teeth.

I recently lost my splint (after 10 years, ugh)... the original one cost me $600, so I wasn't too excited about having to get a new one. I asked the neuro about those front-teeth splints, and she said that they are way overpriced and aren't that great.

She recommended getting a new splint like my old one from a dentist who specializes in them. Unfortunately, finding a dentist who does splints has been really difficult, and I still haven't had one made. I've been using Shock Doctor mouthguards in the meantime (they work well enough, but I have to replace them frequently because I bite through them eventually).

Regarding the braces... the specialist I saw originally for the TMJ said that the braces probably caused my problem by changing my bite. So it may not necessarily fix the problem to get braces. Just thought I'd throw my experience in there, in case you're still trying to decide what to do

Thanks for digging up this old thread, e! And thank you everyone for the thoughtful replies! I was thinking about this issue again last week...

For now, my HA specialist has recommended that I not spend the $$ to buy a splint. In his opinion, my TMJ and clenching are not a primary cause of my migraines...

My doc and I know the two are related--the doc just doesn't think that the jaw is causing many of my headaches. I know I clench more when I feel the migraine coming on. For now, I've just been trying to notice the clenching and actively trying to relax my jaw. This works fine when I'm awake...but I clench like CRAZY when I'm sleeping. (Especially when the migraine comes in the middle of the night, as so many of mine do.)

I'm still thinking about some sort of splint. Fortunately, one of DH's good friends is a dentist! He and I have discussed this issue at length and I know he would be happy to make any splint I needed (or refer me to someone who can!).

So for now, I wait. And I keep working on those preventive meds!

jenny

I am currently seeing a nueromuscular dentist for similar issues. I've had 1 treatment a couple of weeks back & go for 2nd next week. This past year has been about ruling things out as triggers or solutions - started with Botox last summer & now on to the TMJ.

My jaw pops, yawning or eating or relaxing. It has for a number of years. I've informed my neurologist du jour of the intense pain in my jaw (left side) in addition to my headaches. I have a horrible bite & could have used braces years ago. When the maxalt/imitrex/midrin kicks in, my jaw is often the 1st thing to relax, making speech slurred but relief nonetheless. I stumbled upon the Neuromuscular Dentistry angle on a lark about 8 weeks ago when googling.

If you do not have my symptoms & have a semi-perfect bite, I would accept your doctor's ruling out of this as a trigger. However, especially if both of these 2 are true, I would look into it more. In my experience, 22 years since my first 'go to doctor, get knocked out' migraine trip, these 2 types of doctors (medical & dentist) do not work together. Perhaps they should.

I am not optimistic this treatment will rid me of migraines, all bets are off on that after the Botox disappointment from last year. But I will be glad to let anyone know how it goes.

I had a new NTI nightguard made a few months ago. It was created for migraine suffers so my dental insurance paid for it! It is just a little thing that clips on the two front teeth so as not to obstruct breathing. They don't really know if the grinding is because of the migraines or TMJ. It has not really helped, but I have tried it many times over the last 12 years. It does help the wearing of the teeth,and jaw stiffness. NTI has a good website about migraines also.
Take Care,
Trish

Sez you, maybe. Me, I KNOW you have a beautiful smile, because you smile from the heart!

quote:

Originally posted by LauraHOST:
Thankfully, he has a beautiful smile. Me, not so much! LOL!