Do you have headaches, sore jaws, or neck pain on a regular basis?

If you do, it is a good idea to tell our doctors at DP Dental about them. But why us? First of all, it is important for us to have this information as part of your medical records. Depending on the type of headache, frequency, and severity, there are a variety of medical reasons that this can be important information for your dentists.

But most importantly, your headaches may be caused by an abnormal bite, and if so, our doctors at DP Dental can treat them more effectively than anyone else!

Headache is just one symptom that may be attributed to poor bite and/or teeth clenching and grinding induced Temporomandibular Joint Disorder. The following is a simplified list of certain signs and symptoms you should watch out for as early indications of TMD. If you find yourself in any of these situations, contact our doctors for a comprehensive diagnosis, and to discuss tried and proven solutions.

1. Your headache is more prevalent when you wake up in the morning or in mid-afternoon.

2. You frequently experience tension headaches.

3. Your headache is more severe when you chew.

4. Your headache is often in  areas near your temples, under or over your eyes, in the ear, and/or in the jaw area.

5. You may experience pain in the ear, possibly accompanied by ringing or buzzing sounds.

6. You hear clicking or popping noises when opening your jaw – in severe cases, your jaw may lock when you open your mouth, requiring manual assistance to close it.

7. Your jaw opening is limited (a good reference of normal opening is three fingers width).

8. Your jaw muscles are sore or tender; you may find that your back teeth  lacks the strength to bite down hard.

9. You have swelling on the sides of your face.

10. You have sensitive teeth in the absence of dental problems.

11. You’ve been told by your partner that you grind at night.

12. You find yourself clenching your teeth hard during the day, especially under stress. (Our lower jaw is usually 1-2 cm apart from our upper jaw in resting position under normal conditions.)

13. Your upper and lower teeth do not align properly; you may have overlapping teeth; your upper teeth may not cover your lower teeth; or you may have a very deep bite where you see very little of your bottom front teeth.

Visit the DP Dental page for more information on the symptoms and solutions to

Temporomandibular Disorder-related headaches.