TMJ and Headaches

Reviewed by  Monroe Elkin, BS PHARM., DMD

CHRONIC HEADACHES? IT COULD BE TMJ

If you're one of the many Americans with temporomandibular joint disorder, commonly called TMJ, you may also be experiencing TMJ headaches. TMJ is caused by the misalignment of the jaw, which leads to all types of jaw, neck, and head pain.

The temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, acts like a sliding hinge. It connects your jawbone to your skull. There is one joint on each side of your jaw. You use this joint any time you talk, chew, smile, yawn, or any other time you move your lower jaw. TMJ disorder can not only cause pain in the jaw, but it can cause serious and painful headaches.

The specific cause of a particular person's TMJ disorder can be difficult to determine. Your pain may be due to one or a combination of factors including genetics, arthritis, or a jaw injury. In most cases, the pain and discomfort associated with TMJ can be alleviated with nonsurgical treatments, such as a quality nightguard like the CustMbite Nightguard or CustMbite Hard Surface Nightguard. Surgery is rare and generally a last resort used only after all other measures have failed.

Most people don't give a second thought to the cause of their headaches, chalking them up to dehydration or stress. However, TMJ headaches are caused by the symptoms of TMJ, and they mimic many different types of headaches. For example, the misalignment of the jaw that's linked to TMJ can exacerbate snoring and bruxism, two of the most common causes of headaches. They are also conditions that happen while you sleep, so it's not as simple as breaking a daytime habit with willpower. So what's the solution to your TMJ headache?

At CustMbite, we believe in providing people with unique and effective ways to reduce TMJ headaches. Our nightguards were designed to work for people who have TMJ to reduce their headaches by addressing the accompanying teeth clenching and grinding that happens during sleep. Read on to learn more about these innovative ways to address the causes and effects of TMJ headaches.

CAN BRUXISM CAUSE HEADACHES?

TMJ-related bruxism can absolutely cause headaches. Aside from the sheer pain of having a jaw that's out of place, its misalignment can irritate the entire upper body. When your jaw is properly aligned, your teeth fit together like puzzle pieces, allowing your jaw to close completely. Unfortunately, TMJ can throw this perfect fit off. This often leads to bruxism, a condition that causes you to grind or clench your teeth both during the day and while you sleep.

People with bruxism often wake with splitting headaches and awful jaw pain. But because bruxism happens at night, they're often unaware of it. If you've noticed enamel wear or unusual tooth sensitivity, you may have bruxism. Left unchecked, the excess pressure exerted on your teeth can cause enamel wear, tooth fractures, and severe headaches.

Using a nightguard to ward off a headaches caused by TMJ-related bruxism is an effective way to reduce the intensity and frequency of your headaches. However, it's important to choose a nightguard that's tailored to your teeth and the intensity of your grinding or clenching. Bulky over-the-counter mouthguards can force your jaw out of place even further, leading to more pain.

WHICH MOUTHGUARD IS BEST FOR TMJ HEADACHES?

It is so important that your approach to reducing your TMJ headache is customizable. Whether your TMJ headaches are caused by poor sleep or bruxism, taking a customized approach gives you a better, more comfortable experience. The problem is, this can be an expensive way to go. The cost of custom bruxism guards from your dentist can run into the thousands. At CustMbite, we knew there was a better way. Our nightguards are completely customizable. Read the following descriptions to determine which one is right for you.

• For Teeth Grinding and TMJ: The CustMbite Nightguard
  Do you suffer from moderate headaches caused by light TMJ-induced bruxism? The CustMbite Nightguard is a great option for you. It offers thin, flexible, and durable protection that can help to ease the pressure on your teeth as you sleep. If you have a child who suffers from bruxism or TMJ, this is also the choice for them. The standard nightguard comes in both regular and petite sizes to fit any mouth. It even comes in your choice of colors, making it fun for children of all ages to choose their nightguard.
• For Severe Grinding and TMJ: The CustMbite Hard Surface Nightguard
  If severe TMJ bruxism is causing intense headaches, you'll want to look for a nightguard that can stand up to your mighty bite. CustMbite's Hard Surface Nightguard is designed to relieve the stress on your teeth, no matter how hard you grind. It's customizable like the standard nightguard, but also has a hard, flat surface that allows your teeth to move while your jaw is in motion, keeping your teeth from grinding together.

Both the CustMbite Nightguard and the CustMbite Hard Surface Nightguard are made from CustMbite's patented Vistamaxx material. This material is flexible yet strong enough to keep your teeth from grinding and clenching all night. It only takes a couple of minutes to customize either nightguard to fit your specific bite so it doesn't fall out during the night.

It can be challenging to find a nightguard that fits your bite if you wear braces, but here, that's not an issue. CustMbite nightguards come with special fitting instructions for people with braces. Not only that, but you can remold them to your bite each time your teeth shift, and then again once the braces come off for good. This can save you a ton of money because you don't have to get a new nightguard each time your bite changes.

Because you wear your nightguard in your mouth every night, it's essential to keep it clean and sanitized. That's made super easy with CustMbite's All Natural Oral Appliance Cleaner. Chemicals like bleach and alcohol are harmful to the body, so we've created our oral appliance cleaner from a safe, natural formula including tea tree oil, menthol oil, and distilled H2O. This formula removes 99% of bacteria after the first two hours.

The All Natural Oral Appliance Cleaner is vegan-friendly, sugar-free, cruelty-free, and gluten-free. It comes in an easy-to-use spray bottle that makes it the best way to clean, refreshen, and disinfect your nightguard and the handy case your nightguard is stored in. All you need to do is spray the nightguard (or case), wipe it with a cloth, rinse it in water, and it's ready to use the next time you go to bed.

Our nightguards are also easy to maintain because they do not absorb water, saliva, or bacteria. They are free of BPA, PVC, latex, and phthalates. They have been evaluated and cleared by the FDA and are made entirely in the United States for your safety. You can rely on our products being the highest in quality.

WHERE CAN I FIND TMJ HEADACHE SOLUTIONS?

The best TMJ headache treatment is one you're going to use — and one that you can afford. Instead of turning to your dentist or drugstore for pricey and sometimes dangerous “solutions,” trust your bite to CustMbite. We offer durable, comfortable, custom nightguards at affordable prices. If you're ready to experience a day without TMJ headaches, grab a CustMbite Nightguard or Hard Surface Nightguard today!