Dental Problems and Neuralgia: Possible Causes of Headaches
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Defined Tag: Other Headache Types.

More than 12% of people in the United States have severe recurring headaches. While many headaches are caused by muscle tension, stress, earaches or sinus problems, about one in five are caused by either dental problems or neuralgia. How can dental problems cause headaches? And what is neuralgia? We’ll explain them both.

Dental Problems that Cause Headaches

In many cases, headaches related to dental problems involve muscle tension. A "bad bite," or a malfunction in the way the teeth fit together, is responsible for many recurring headaches. This type of headache usually occurs on either one or both sides of the head, and appears as a dull ache. Most of the time, aspirin and other pain relievers are very effective at soothing the pain. However, it’s also important to have the cause treated by a dentist, if dental problems are causing the headache in the first place.

Signs that your headaches might be related to dental problems include:

- pain that radiates from behind the eyes
- teeth grinding, especially at night
- sore jaw muscles on waking (usually caused by clenching or grinding of the teeth)
- jaw sounds such as pops or clicks
- pain and tenderness within the scalp

Neuralgia

Neuralgia is also called TGN, which stands for trigeminal neuralgia. The trigeminal nerves are found on the sides of the face, splitting in three directions, and help to transmit sensations such as touch, heat, cold and pain to your brain from the face, gums and mouth. While the exact cause of TGN is not fully known, it is believed that the pain occurs when blood vessels press on those nerves.

Many sufferers of this sort of neuralgia are women, as well as people over the age of fifty, but people of all ages have been known to experience it. Neuralgia of this type causes the face to become so sensitive that many people stop washing their face, avoid shaving and even avoid eating in order to stave off the pain. Obviously this is not a long-term solution, so it’s best to see a doctor to seek proper treatment.

How is Neuralgia Treated?

There aren’t any diagnostic tests for TGN, but the symptoms are usually recognized by doctors. Painkillers, such as most over-the-counter headache medications, and even the stronger prescription kind, are usually not helpful in treating TGN. However, there are other treatments available, such as anti-convulsant drugs, similar to those used in the treatment of epilepsy. These medications help to slow down the nerve impulses themselves, relieving the pain after a few days of treatment. Long-term sufferers of trigeminal neuralgia may also be offered surgery to help relieve the pressure.

If you believe your headaches are caused by trigeminal neuralgia or dental problems, see your dentist or doctor to get their opinion. The solution to your problem may be within your grasp, and by treating the underlying cause of the pain, your headaches could disappear forever.

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