You are more likely to have headaches if you grind your teeth, whether during the day or at night. But the good news is that if you treat the cause of teeth grinding, your symptoms can improve, giving you hope for fewer headaches.
Teeth grinding can cause several problems, including wearing down teeth, making them sensitive, hurting your jaw (TMJ pain), and disrupting sleep. It can also cause headaches. Wonder, “What does a bruxism headache feel like”? Let’s find out.
Teeth Grinding Headache Location
Bruxism headaches are usually felt in the forehead, temples, and the area behind the eyes. Due to their location, they are often mistaken for TMJ. Grinding your teeth a lot for a long time (bruxism) can wear down your teeth, so your jaw doesn’t feel right (TMJ).
What Exactly Does a Bruxism Headache Feel Like?
People with bruxism headaches often say they feel a dull ache or pressure on both sides of their heads. Some compare it to wearing a too-tight hat, which causes pain all around their heads. It doesn’t always happen, but it comes and goes during certain periods or stages of life.
Types of Headaches Linked with Bruxism
Although teeth grinding may not directly cause headaches, there is a close connection between the two.
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Tension Headaches from Bruxism
When you grind your teeth a lot, it can cause tension headaches. These headaches feel like a tight band around your head, causing dull, aching pain. They might also make your scalp, neck, and shoulders feel tender. Bruxism can tire out your jaw muscles, leading to soreness that triggers these headaches. Not getting enough sleep because of bruxism can make these headaches worse.
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Morning Headaches Linked to Bruxism
Some people wake up with headaches because they grind their teeth in their sleep, a condition called sleep bruxism. Not sleeping well can make you more sensitive to pain and increase the frequency of headaches.
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Migraine Headaches Caused by Bruxism
Migraine headaches are often severe and come with nausea and vomiting. They feel like sharp, throbbing pain and can be triggered by damage to tissue in your body. Consider using a special mouthpiece while sleeping.
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Cluster Headaches and Bruxism
Cluster headaches are intense but don’t last as long as migraines. They are not as common in people with bruxism, but they can still happen.
How Long Does Bruxism Headache Last?
How long teeth-grinding headaches stick around depends on what kind of headache you’re dealing with. You might feel pain or discomfort for a few hours or days if it’s a migraine.
Bruxism Headache Treatment
The first step in treating a tension headache is to address any specific reasons causing it, like teeth grinding. If the headache isn’t linked to another health issue, the doctor might recommend certain medicines to help, such as:
Pain relievers you can get without a prescription, like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Sometimes, therapies can help with chronic tension headaches. These include:
- Biofeedback therapy: Learning how to control body functions like muscle tension.
- Relaxation training: Techniques to help your body relax, like slowing your breathing or lowering your heart rate.
- Meditation: Practices that focus on calming the mind and body.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): A type of therapy that helps change behaviors by changing thoughts and patterns.
Ending Note
Bruxism is a common issue, and so are the headaches. Understanding “what does a bruxism headache feel like?” allows you to seek the right treatment from the right specialist. Struggling with enamel wear and frequent morning headaches?
Our Airway Mouth Doctor™ can help. Visit Dr. Felix at Whole Health Dental Center. Our doctor’s four best-selling books on Amazon have positioned him as a leader in healthcare innovation. Dial (703) 385-6425 to book an appointment.