Head and Jaw Pain - How to Make it Stop

TMJ disorder can also be the cause of headache, or head and jaw pain.

If you thought that Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD) only affected the jaw and was occasionally accompanied with earaches then you should also look into it the next time when you experience slight headaches as well.

The connection between the head and the TMJ can be felt if one pushes the lower jaw forward to its maximum extent while keeping the head and neck in position. As soon as this is done a sort of pressure or tension is felt at the back of the neck.

The headache occurs as a result of secondary symptom of the actual disorder of the jaw joint. Therefore, the sufferer may experience dizziness also. This has a simple explanation; since the TMJ connects the lower jaw to the temporal bone in the skull, any feeling in the joint can be easily transmitted to the head.

The TMJ is responsible for the movement of the lower jaw. If you notice carefully, it is only the lower jaw in our mouth that is movable. When we chew, yawn, grind or even talk, it is the lower jaw that goes up and down or sideways. So now you know why hand puppeteers move the lower jaw of the puppets only!

You see, there are groups of muscles for your lower jaw. One set will pull one way to close the jaw and another set will pull the opposite way to open the jaw.

When there is a disturbance, the muscles don't pull together evenly, leading to TMJ and headache. So this head jaw pain connection is telling you that your muscles and tendons of the neck and jaw and the joint or joints of the jaw are in trouble.

Read on and I will mention that I took care of these problems in an easy manner that you often can do at home.

In addition to the headache, you may be experiencing jaw clicking, neck pain or stiffness and even difficulty opening or closing the mouth.

Just to note - Heart diseases can also have a connection to the headaches. This is because heart disorders can cause the jaws to ache, which in turn transmit the pain to our heads. However, one should get a thorough check up for proper diagnosis to rule out heart disease.

Now you can see the head and jaw pain connection. If you have not, please begin to notice your symptoms and what you were doing that may bring this on. Although it could be something else such as stress or even heart disease, Often people find that it is caused by TMD.

It is best to start doing something as soon as you start to have the symptoms, as it can get quite bad, the longer you let it go. It may eventually end up in Lockjaw or your Dentist may suggest jaw surgery.