The Link Between Headaches & Malocclusions

There are many reasons that you may be suffering from a headache. Headaches can be the result of dehydration, extreme stress, side effects of certain medications, or tension in the neck or shoulder muscles. However, there is one lesser-known cause of headaches – the misalignment of your teeth and jaws, also known as malocclusion.

How Can Malocclusion Cause Headaches?

Malocclusions can occur for a number of reasons. These include trauma to the teeth and mouth, missing teeth, or genetics. Regardless of why the malocclusion occurred, it can cause a strain on your jaws and the muscles that help to control them.

If too much pressure is applied to the joints at the hinges of our jaws (also known as the temporomandibular joint), the muscles in the jaws can move out of place or become sore and achy. If untreated, this will eventually cause jaw and neck pain, clicking or popping noises in the jaw, and even headaches.

The most common reasons for malocclusion include:

• Underbites
• Overbites
• Tooth decay or infection
• Crooked or misaligned teeth

If you’re suffering from the symptoms above or if you have a persistent headache with no apparent cause, you may want to visit our office and receive an orthodontic evaluation.

To make an appointment with our skilled Colorado Springs orthodontist, please contact Lockett Orthodontics today!