Do you suffer from daily headaches that occur right after you wake up?
Headaches make it hard to focus and cause patients to feel tired and irritated. They can create a poor quality of life. Chronic morning headaches may be a clue that you have sleep apnea.
Patients with headaches from sleep apnea may find that over-the-counter pain medications offer little to no relief. Many patients are unaware that your dentist can treat your sleep apnea without a bulky CPAP machine.
Fuller Dental offers innovative treatment for patients diagnosed with sleep apnea in Burlington, NC. This treatment is less invasive than a CPAP machine and is easy to use. In addition to treating headaches, we treat patients’ common dental concerns daily.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a common and complex health problem that affects millions of Americans. It is a serious medical condition that affects the oral and overall health of the patient. It can cause oral and systemic health issues that can impact the quality of life.
Sleep apnea occurs when the airway is blocked during sleep, and oxygen flow stops quickly. Patients with sleep apnea wake to gasp for air, snore loudly, and experience chronic fatigue. They are unable to enjoy a full, restful night of sleep.
If you wake suddenly gasping for air, wake with chronic headaches, have trouble focusing, fall asleep during the day, or snore loudly, you may be experiencing this type of sleep disorder. Chronic fatigue, depression, and irritability are also symptoms.
How does sleep apnea cause headaches?
Excessing oxygen flow to the brain at night can lead to these headaches. Patients wake in the morning feeling tired and restless and often have severe headaches that may interrupt their ability to conduct their daily routine.
How can I treat headaches caused by sleep apnea?
Dr. Peterson of Fuller Dental is a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. He stays informed on all the latest research and treatments for sleep apnea and other sleep disorders. Dr. Peterson is always at the forefront of dental technology and offers sleep disorder treatment. Oral sleep devices work very well and offer a discreet treatment option by Fuller Dental.
Most patients can handle oral appliances very well. They have a high compliance rate among patients, which leads to a decrease in both symptoms and health risks. Your oral sleep appliance is like a mouth guard you wear while sleeping.
Repositioning the jaw for natural airflow, the oral appliance reduces or eliminates the continual cessation of breathing, leading to symptoms and health problems.
An oral sleep mouthpiece will reposition the jaw to allow for natural airflow. This will reduce the number of times the patient stops breathing while asleep. The patient will experience fewer symptoms and health issues, including headaches. The oral device is small, portable, and easy to use. Patients can still speak and drink water when it is in place.
TMJ and Headaches
For people with TMJ disorders, headaches are a common complaint. The pain associated with TMJ headaches is often similar to tension-type headaches or migraines but is usually linked to the dysfunction of the jaw and surrounding muscles.
How TMJ Causes Headaches
The connection between TMJ disorders and headaches lies in the muscles that control jaw movement. When the temporomandibular joints are not functioning properly, the surrounding muscles become stressed and overworked. This can lead to pain in the jaw area and the neck, shoulders, and head.
When the jaw is misaligned, or the muscles are strained, they can trigger tension in the head, leading to headaches. The pain may start in the jaw and radiate to other head parts. Sometimes, the headache may feel like a pressure or tightness around the temples or forehead.
The muscle tension from TMJ dysfunction can also affect the nerves in the head. These nerves, including the trigeminal nerve responsible for facial sensation, may become irritated. This irritation can contribute to headache pain and may even cause facial pain, eye pain, or earaches in addition to the headache itself.
In some cases, TMJ headaches may be accompanied by other symptoms like dizziness or a feeling of fullness in the ears. This can make the headaches more difficult to diagnose, as they can overlap with other conditions like sinus headaches or migraines.
Symptoms of TMJ Headaches
TMJ headaches can present themselves in various ways, but some common symptoms can help you identify them. These include:
- Pain in the temples or forehead: TMJ headaches often cause pain that radiates across the forehead or around the temples. This pain may feel like pressure or tightness.
- Jaw pain: One of the most notable signs of TMJ-related headaches is pain in the jaw, particularly near the joint in front of the ear. The jaw may also feel stiff or tender.
- Tension in the neck or shoulders: The muscles that control jaw movement are connected to the neck and upper back, so TMJ disorders often lead to muscle tension in these areas.
- Clicking or popping noises: People with TMJ disorders may hear clicking or popping sounds when they open or close their mouths. This is often accompanied by pain or discomfort.
- Difficulty opening the mouth: TMJ dysfunction can make it difficult or painful to open the mouth wide. This can affect eating, speaking, and yawning.
- Earaches or fullness in the ears: TMJ headaches may also be associated with a feeling of fullness or pressure in the ears, or even earaches, due to the proximity of the temporomandibular joints to the ear structures.
These symptoms can vary in intensity and may be triggered or worsened by certain actions, such as chewing, talking, or clenching the jaw.
Diagnosing TMJ Headaches
To diagnose TMJ headaches, a dentist typically starts by conducting a physical exam and reviewing your medical history. They may check for signs of jaw pain, clicking or popping in the joint, or difficulty moving the jaw. We may also ask about your habits, such as teeth grinding, jaw clenching, or any recent injuries to the head or neck.
In some cases, imaging tests like X-rays or MRIs may be ordered to look for joint damage or abnormalities in the temporomandibular joint. These tests can also help rule out other potential causes of the headaches, such as sinus infections or dental problems.
Treatment for TMJ Headaches
The good news is that there are effective treatments for TMJ headaches. Treatment will often depend on the severity of the TMJ disorder and the specific symptoms you are experiencing.
1. Pain Relief
For immediate relief, over-the-counter pain medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help reduce the pain and inflammation caused by TMJ headaches. A warm or cold compress applied to the jaw area may also provide relief.
2. Jaw Exercises
A physical therapist or dentist may recommend exercises to help stretch and strengthen the muscles around the jaw. These exercises can improve jaw function, reduce muscle tension, and alleviate pain. Regular exercises may also help prevent the muscles from becoming tight or strained in the future.
3. Mouthguards or Splints
If teeth grinding or jaw clenching contributes to TMJ headaches, your dentist may recommend a mouthguard or splint. These devices are worn over the teeth at night to prevent grinding and reduce strain on the temporomandibular joint. A custom-made mouthguard can be more effective than over-the-counter options.
4. Stress Management
Since stress is a common trigger for TMJ disorders, practicing stress-relieving techniques like meditation, yoga, or deep breathing can be beneficial in managing TMJ headaches. Reducing stress can help relax the muscles around the jaw and decrease the frequency of headaches.
Headache FAQs
It can be surprising that headaches are due to dental problems. Learn more by reading the answers to these commonly asked questions.
What dental problems can cause headaches?
Both sleep apnea and TMJ can cause headaches. TMJ headaches occur when the tension from your jaw joint spreads throughout your face and head. Sleep apnea headaches are due to interruptions in your breathing while asleep, so the brain isn’t getting enough oxygen. Both are most common to experience when you wake up in the morning.
What does a sleep apnea headache feel like?
Sleep apnea headaches are ones that patients experience upon waking for at least 15 days out of the month. They feel like a pressing, not pulsing, pain that you feel across both sides of your head. They can last for up to four hours after you’ve woken up.
What does a TMJ headache feel like?
TMJ pain usually starts right around where the joint is, near your temples. But it can quickly spread and can turn into daily migraines. TMJ pain doesn’t limit itself to your head and face, either. You may experience pain and tension throughout your neck and shoulders as well.
Can TMJ cause constant head pressure?
If your muscles are constantly contracting, you may experience a tight feeling in your face and head. This is called a pressure headache. However, TMJ can cause a few different types of headaches. A pressure headache is just one of them.
Can sleep apnea headaches turn into migraines?
Yes, a hypoxia headache can mimic the symptoms of migraines and other headaches. Cluster headaches are another type that’s commonly associated with sleep apnea headaches. It can be hard to recognize that your headaches are caused by sleep apnea because you assume it’s another type of headache instead.
Can a dentist treat my headaches?
Determining if a dental issue is causing your headaches can be difficult. One of the big tells is if you’re primarily feeling pain when you wake up. Pain behind your eyes can also indicate that it’s a dental problem. If you’ve had trouble with a tooth recently, that can cause a headache if a nerve has been pinched or triggered. It’s always better to try to contact us so we can see for sure.
Schedule A Dental Exam Today
If you or a loved one experiences headaches almost daily, contact your Fuller Dental dentist. Seeking treatment for chronic headaches and sleep apnea as soon as possible can prevent further health complications. Give us a call or request an appointment online today.