Migraine headaches can really throw you for a loop. Unlike regular headaches, migraines are a neurological phenomenon and can often be difficult to treat with over-the-counter or traditional prescription painkillers. As a result, many migraine-specific prescription medications have debuted on the market, some more effective than others, depending on the patient. Effective treatments for migraine headaches depend on the individual migraine sufferer, but so too do migraine triggers. For some it's alcohol, for others it can be anything from bright lights to stress or even other medications. But there is one trigger that you may not have known about, and it’s making headlines around the world. Do you get migraine headaches? Do you have temporomandibular joint dysfunction? Well, according to a new study, the two may be closely related. The study was conducted at the University of Sao Paolo in Brazil and found that though temporomandibular joint dysfunction (or TMJ dysfunction for short) itself cannot trigger a migraine, having a migraine with TMJ dysfunction could make your migraine symptoms much worse. So, what’s the cause behind this new revelation? Well, researchers aren’t 100 percent sure, but there are some theories. First, the pain of having a migraine could be a trigger for TMJ dysfunction. If you are experiencing pain anywhere in the body, but especially in the head, you could be more likely to grind your teeth or clench your jaw, which would exacerbate migraine pain. Another theory? Cortisol. Cortisol is a hormone that the body releases during times of high stress. Stress is also a well-known trigger of both migraine headaches and temporomandibular joint dysfunction, again due to jaw clenching and teeth grinding. When cortisol is released in the body, it acts as an inflammatory, causing the joints to swell. This includes the temporomandibular joint, which, if it's already affected by temporomandibular joint dysfunction, could feel a whole lot worse. The good news is you don’t have to live with temporomandibular joint dysfunction pain. Treatment options such as neuromuscular orthodontics can work to alleviate that pain and align your jaw for optimal relief. If you suffer from TMJ dysfunction, please contact Dr. George’s office for an evaluation by calling 724-220-2347.

If you are one of the estimated 10 million Americans suffering from temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ disorder), you’ll likely be thrilled to learn that all you need to ease your TMJ disorder pain is a little R&R (rest and relaxation) – or at least that’s what a recent headline implied. But unfortunately for many TMJ disorder sufferers, rest and relaxation isn’t only impractical, but also downright ineffective. So, why would a headline imply this? And what really helps to alleviate TMJ disorder pain?Temporomandibular joint disorder is a condition that occurs when the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) of the jaw is misaligned, causing dysfunction and serious pain in areas such as the jaw, head, neck, shoulders and back. It can even cause tinnitus (ear ringing), migraine headaches, bruxism (teeth grinding), and the inability to open and close the jaw. Dr. Alexandra George is a Wexford, Pennsylvania, dentist who treats patients with temporomandibular joint disorder. She says there are many things patients can do to alleviate symptoms of the condition, but that there is no "one size fits all" treatment that works for everyone."Temporomandibular joint disorders can be as diverse to treat as the patients who have them, because TMJ disorder can have many causes and many effects," George says.For example, one patient may have a disorder exacerbated by teeth grinding that also causes jaw pain and neck pain. Subsequently, that patient may find relief with a mouth guard that prevents teeth grinding, while another patient who does not grind her teeth may suffer from migraines and jaw stiffness but may not require a mouth guard. The combination of symptoms and causes make TMJ disorders a unique and painful puzzle for sufferers to figure out - and that’s exactly why sensational headlines like the one claiming that "relaxation" and "rest" can "ease TMJ pain" are so misleading."Relaxation and rest of the jaw can certainly help ease jaw pain in some situations," says George. "But the headline makes it seem like you can get relief by simply taking a nap or a vacation, which is not very likely."The good news is, according to George, though relief from TMJD may be a bit more difficult to obtain than simply sleeping it off, there are solutions that can provide relief, such as neuromuscular dentistry, a special form of dentistry designed to realign the jaw and balance the bite."If you think you have TMJ disorder, speak to your dentist," she says. "Don’t rely on a news article to diagnose or offer do-it-yourself treatment options. You could potentially make your TMJ disorder worse."

 According to a 2015 study in the journal American Family Physician, an estimated 15 to 20 percent of Americans suffer from the condition known as temporomandibular joint disorder, also known as TMJ disorder, or simply TMJD. But while so many people suffer from the often-debilitating symptoms of this joint disorder, the study found that only about 5 percent of sufferers seek help for the condition.