Migraines?

[tamiddavis]

For the past 3 weeks I've been getting severe migraines once a day. I'm almost positive (but yet not) that it's related to my braces or else the constant jaw clenching I'm catching myself do. Has anyone else had migraines since getting their braces? I got my braces in March, so I've only had them for 2 months.

[Ciara]

I know quite a few people, myself included, who get tension headaches from the pressure from their braces. The pressure also causes some people to clench or grind their teeth leading to more tension headaches. A few people I know were diagnosed with "rebound" headaches because of all the painkillers they were taking. I mainly used icepacks not OTC painkillers for them.

I do get migraines (classic migraines with a prodrome phase and aura) but I haven't noticed any increase in them because of braces.

[tamiddavis]

Thanks for your response! I will try the ice pack. I feel like the amount of pain killers I'm taking can't be good for my body, and quite honestly they don't even help. My headaches are only on the left side of my face. I've suffered from cluster headaches in the past, so when this first started I thought I might have been having an episode, but I knew this migraine didn't come close to the pain I got with clusters. This headache is more in my temple and jaw, vs the cluster which was like an ice pick through my left eye. I'll have to research into tension headaches and see if I can find a preventative measure.

[Ciara]

Thanks for your response! I will try the ice pack. I feel like the amount of pain killers I'm taking can't be good for my body, and quite honestly they don't even help. My headaches are only on the left side of my face. I've suffered from cluster headaches in the past, so when this first started I thought I might have been having an episode, but I knew this migraine didn't come close to the pain I got with clusters. This headache is more in my temple and jaw, vs the cluster which was like an ice pick through my left eye. I'll have to research into tension headaches and see if I can find a preventative measure.

I read this online: Headaches from Dental Stress

How can your bite cause a headache? Tension headaches result from muscle strain, or contraction. When muscles are held tight for long periods of time they begin to ache. Headaches from dental stress are a type of muscle tension headache. A tension headache may be on one or both sides of your head. Or, it may surround your head as if a steel band were wrapped around it. The pain feels like a dull, non-throbbing ache. Tension headaches are usually relieved by aspirin. Specific signs which indicate that the headache may have a dental origin include:

Pain behind the eyes
Sore jaw muscles or "tired" muscles upon awakening
Teeth grinding
Clicking or popping jaw joints
Head and/or scalp painful to the touch

https://www.aacfp.org/resources/headaches.cfm

Is it possible that the pain your are experiencing is from your temporomandibular joint? Have you mentioned these headaches to your orthodontist?

I don't like taking lots of painkillers either and as you said, they can't be good for you. They can lead to rebound headache making the whole situation worse.

I hope you can get some relief soon. Constant daily headaches can make your life rather miserable.

[tamiddavis]

Thanks for your response! I will try the ice pack. I feel like the amount of pain killers I'm taking can't be good for my body, and quite honestly they don't even help. My headaches are only on the left side of my face. I've suffered from cluster headaches in the past, so when this first started I thought I might have been having an episode, but I knew this migraine didn't come close to the pain I got with clusters. This headache is more in my temple and jaw, vs the cluster which was like an ice pick through my left eye. I'll have to research into tension headaches and see if I can find a preventative measure.

I read this online: Headaches from Dental Stress

How can your bite cause a headache? Tension headaches result from muscle strain, or contraction. When muscles are held tight for long periods of time they begin to ache. Headaches from dental stress are a type of muscle tension headache. A tension headache may be on one or both sides of your head. Or, it may surround your head as if a steel band were wrapped around it. The pain feels like a dull, non-throbbing ache. Tension headaches are usually relieved by aspirin. Specific signs which indicate that the headache may have a dental origin include:

Pain behind the eyes
Sore jaw muscles or "tired" muscles upon awakening
Teeth grinding
Clicking or popping jaw joints
Head and/or scalp painful to the touch

https://www.aacfp.org/resources/headaches.cfm

Is it possible that the pain your are experiencing is from your temporomandibular joint? Have you mentioned these headaches to your orthodontist?

I don't like taking lots of painkillers either and as you said, they can't be good for you. They can lead to rebound headache making the whole situation worse.

I hope you can get some relief soon. Constant daily headaches can make your life rather miserable.

Thank you, thank you! This was so helpful! I have an appointment this Friday and I'm absolutely going to talk to my orthodontist about it, and now I won't feel like a crazy person suggesting it might be dental related after reading that article. I definitely think it's related to my braces now, the headaches have just started since my last adjustment, and there is a lot of soreness in my jaw when I'm having one. I'm completely incapacitated during these headaches, they're horrible, I am really looking forward to my appointment, I hope he can give me some relief, then I can avoid the Dr!

[Ciara]

[/quote]

I read this online: Headaches from Dental Stress

How can your bite cause a headache? Tension headaches result from muscle strain, or contraction. When muscles are held tight for long periods of time they begin to ache. Headaches from dental stress are a type of muscle tension headache. A tension headache may be on one or both sides of your head. Or, it may surround your head as if a steel band were wrapped around it. The pain feels like a dull, non-throbbing ache. Tension headaches are usually relieved by aspirin. Specific signs which indicate that the headache may have a dental origin include:

Pain behind the eyes
Sore jaw muscles or "tired" muscles upon awakening
Teeth grinding
Clicking or popping jaw joints
Head and/or scalp painful to the touch

https://www.aacfp.org/resources/headaches.cfm

Is it possible that the pain your are experiencing is from your temporomandibular joint? Have you mentioned these headaches to your orthodontist?

I don't like taking lots of painkillers either and as you said, they can't be good for you. They can lead to rebound headache making the whole situation worse.

I hope you can get some relief soon. Constant daily headaches can make your life rather miserable.[/quote]


Thank you, thank you! This was so helpful! I have an appointment this Friday and I'm absolutely going to talk to my orthodontist about it, and now I won't feel like a crazy person suggesting it might be dental related after reading that article. I definitely think it's related to my braces now, the headaches have just started since my last adjustment, and there is a lot of soreness in my jaw when I'm having one. I'm completely incapacitated during these headaches, they're horrible, I am really looking forward to my appointment, I hope he can give me some relief, then I can avoid the Dr! [/quote]


You certainly aren't crazy or imagining things. I think headaches have a dental cause quite often and it is often overlooked. I'll be having a chat with my orthodontist too because I keep getting something like an earache combined with tired facial muscles since I got elastics. Let me know how you get on. (Oh, I've found that Paracetamol (acetaminophen ) does nothing for me but Ibuprofen helps a little. It often takes several doses and I hate taking so many painkillers. This is why I've been using ice packs. My friend found that moist heat works better for her.)

[tamiddavis]

I had my appointment today and mentioned the headaches, and my Ortho said it's VERY common and caused by your jaw muscle (she said a medical definition that started with a T I think that I cannot remember, lol!) clenching trying to relieve the pressure of your teeth. She recommended ibruprophen or Tylenol, and if it's still continuing in a couple months to let them know. Apparently it's very common in the first several months of having braces. So that's a relief, and confirmed my suspicion. I'm focusing on not clenching my teeth more, and my headaches seem to be getting less frequent.

[Ciara]

I had my appointment today and mentioned the headaches, and my Ortho said it's VERY common and caused by your jaw muscle (she said a medical definition that started with a T I think that I cannot remember, lol!) clenching trying to relieve the pressure of your teeth. She recommended ibruprophen or Tylenol, and if it's still continuing in a couple months to let them know. Apparently it's very common in the first several months of having braces. So that's a relief, and confirmed my suspicion. I'm focusing on not clenching my teeth more, and my headaches seem to be getting less frequent.

So glad to hear this! She may have mentioned your temporomandibular joints. I have found ibuprofen to be much better than paracetamol (acetaminophen) for headaches caused by pressure from my elastics.

[alicat516]

I have the same problem! 2 weeks into my braces and I am constantly clenching my teeth and each day get a headache that hurts from my jaw joint up thru my temples. I've been taking motrin and tylenol but neither really help so I stopped taking it. I need to try to be more aware of the clenching but it's SO hard not to do! Especially at night bc I have to wear a rubber band from the bottom up over my top front teeth and this makes me clench even more.

[Ciara]

I have the same problem! 2 weeks into my braces and I am constantly clenching my teeth and each day get a headache that hurts from my jaw joint up thru my temples. I've been taking motrin and tylenol but neither really help so I stopped taking it. I need to try to be more aware of the clenching but it's SO hard not to do! Especially at night bc I have to wear a rubber band from the bottom up over my top front teeth and this makes me clench even more.

I think this might be a very common problem. It might be worth mentioning it to your ortho. I've found icepacks help, but my friend found moist heat to be better.

[BeagleHQ]

I just got my braces on today and ended up with a RAGING migraine by the end of the day. Complete with severe nausea. :/