If You're Waking Up With Headaches, You May Need a Mouthguard

Most people who get headaches head for the medicine cabinet or try various home remedies to deal with their pain. But you could be suffering from something you do when you’re asleep — grinding your teeth. The solution could be as simple as a visit to your dentist.  

At Allure Dental Care of Maple Lawn, our dental team can help if tooth grinding is causing your headaches. A customized mouthguard may help resolve the issue, giving you more restful sleep and an end to morning headaches.

How tooth grinding at night causes morning headaches?

Teeth clenching and grinding, also known as bruxism, can be prompted by many underlying conditions, including:

• Missing or damaged teeth
• Misalignment of the jaw
• Sleep apnea
• Stress and anxiety

If you repeatedly spend your nights clenching your jaw and grinding your teeth while you sleep, the result can be chronic morning headaches. The type of headache caused by bruxism is usually a dull, steady ache. The pressure can be referred up into your temples and around the back of your neck, causing tension, jaw and head pain, and neck stiffness. 

Constant bruxism can also lead to strain on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which connects your jaw and your skull, leading to more pain and even difficulty chewing or speaking. Grinding can slowly wear down your teeth and could damage your bite as well. 

Treating morning headaches caused by bruxism

Our experienced dentists complete a full examination and look for wear on your teeth that could be the result of bruxism. You can help by letting us know if you have ever noticed that you clench your jaw or grind your teeth when you are awake. 

If you share a bed with someone, have them weigh in. They could have noticed you grinding your teeth at night when you’re not aware of it yourself. 

A mouthguard is a simple, easy way to prevent teeth grinding at night and stop your recurring morning headaches. Our team takes dental impressions of your bite with your jaw positioned very precisely for optimal results. Our lab then fabricates your custom mouthguard, and all you have to do is wear it nightly when you go to bed. You could soon find that your morning headaches lessen in frequency and intensity, or they could go away altogether. 

Don’t resign yourself to living with constant morning headaches. Call us today or book an appointment online so we can check your teeth for signs of bruxism.