The Link Between Headaches and Bite Misalignment

Headaches can be caused by many reasons including stress, dehydration, the result of certain medications, or muscle tension in the neck or shoulders. However, there is another, lesser-known cause of headaches – the misalignment of your teeth and jaws, which is also known as a malocclusion.

Link Between Malocclusions & Headaches

Malocclusions occur for a number of reasons including trauma to the mouth and teeth, missing teeth, or simply genetics. No matter why a malocclusion occurs, it can cause strain on your jaws and the muscles that control them.

If the hinges of our jaws (known as the temporomandibular joints) undergo too much pressure, the muscles in the jaws can become sore and achy or even move out of place. If left untreated, this will lead to jaw and neck pain, popping or clicking noises when the jaw moves, and even headaches.

Below are the most common causes of malocclusions:

• Overbites
• Underbites
• Misaligned or crooked teeth
• Tooth infection or decay

If your child is suffering from the above symptoms or has a persistent headache with no other apparent cause, it’s a good idea to bring him or her to our office for an evaluation. To make an appointment at our Firestone, Colorado children’s dental office, call Firestone Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics today.