If you suffer from frequent headaches, determining the cause can be frustrating. One overlooked culprit of headaches is temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD/TMJ).
TMJ headache locations are distinct and have patterns that set them apart from other types of headaches. Understanding these distinctions is key to finding the right treatment.
Where Is a TMJ Headache Located: Where Do TMJ Headaches Hurt?
The temporomandibular joint connects your jawbone to your skull. Since this joint is located around the sides of your head, TMJ headaches typically occur in these regions. Specific TMJ headache locations include:
- Temples
- Cheeks
- Ears
- Jaw
- Neck
To know where TMJ headaches are, TMJ headaches dont usually occur in just one spot. Most people experience pain that radiates across their cheek, temple, and neck areas and the pain is often described as one-sided.
How Do I Know If My TMJ Is Causing a Headache
Pay attention to when and how your headache pain occurs. TMJ headaches tend to have these distinguishing characteristics:
- Pain worsens with jaw movement (talking, chewing, yawning)
- Tenderness, tightness, or pain in your jaw muscles
- Jaw locking, popping, or clicking sounds
- Changes in your bite
- Tooth pain or sensitivity
If your headaches are accompanied by any of those TMJ symptoms, the joint dysfunction could be contributing to your headaches.
Which Jaw Pain Leads to Headache?
It is important to pay attention to where you feel TMJ headaches because both sides of your jaw are connected to the temporomandibular joint. However, issues on one side more commonly trigger headaches:
- The right TMJ connects more closely with surrounding nerves and blood vessels. Dysfunction here can irritate those tissues leading to headaches.
- Since most people chew more heavily on their left side, the right joint handles more strain over time. This makes it more prone to problems.
How to Help TMJ-Related Headaches
The good news about TMJ headaches is that treating the root source tends to effectively ease symptoms. Some solutions for TMJ headaches include:
- OTC pain medication
- Hot or cold therapy
- TMJ-specific pain relief devices (night guards, bite splints)
- Stress reduction and relaxation techniques
- Jaw exercises and stretches
- Physical therapy modalities
- TMJ injections
- Orthodontic treatment to realign bite
- Oral surgery (last resort option)
Final Thoughts
Properly diagnosing the cause of your headaches is important to choosing suitable therapies for lasting relief. Additionally, identifying your TMJ headache location is important to get the proper diagnosis.
If over-the-counter methods arent helping, make an appointment at Raleigh TMJ and Sleep. We can evaluate your jaw alignment, joints, and oral condition to determine if TMJ treatment is warranted.