{"id":57,"date":"2025-12-06T17:44:44","date_gmt":"2025-12-06T17:44:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.highlandwestdentalcare.com\/blog\/?p=57"},"modified":"2026-01-04T17:48:00","modified_gmt":"2026-01-04T17:48:00","slug":"associated-aches-are-my-migraines-caused-by-tmd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.highlandwestdentalcare.com\/blog\/2025\/12\/06\/associated-aches-are-my-migraines-caused-by-tmd\/","title":{"rendered":"Associated Aches: Are My Migraines Caused by TMD?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Did you know that your jawbone connects to your skull via two sliding-disc joints, called the temporomandibular joints (TMJ)?<\/a> Under normal circumstances, these give your mouth a full range of motion; forward and back, side to side, and open and closed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But if you suffer from bruxism or have a bite misalignment, the added pressure placed on these joints can trigger a temporomandibular disorder (TMD) that can contribute to other symptoms, including headaches. If you\u2019ve been suffering from recent migraines and  are unsure if your jaw might be the cause, continue reading to learn more about it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Does TMD Cause Migraines?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re suffering from chronic headaches that tend to occur on one side, last for hours or days, and are accompanied by nausea or extreme sensitivity to external stimuli, like light or sound, you might be having migraines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are many potential causes, such as genetics, lifestyle and habits, stress levels, hormone changes, and neurological pathways. However, it\u2019s also possible that the throbbing is caused by TMD. For example, in one 2017 study, researchers observed 84 women, some of whom experienced chronic or episodic migraines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this experiment, TMD symptoms were observed in about 54% of the control patients who did not experience migraines. That figure jumped up to 80% of those with episodic migraines and up to 100% of those with chronic migraines also exhibited signs of TMD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Do I Know if My Headache is Caused by TMD?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are specific criteria that are used to diagnose TMD and measure the severity of your condition, and not all migraines are necessarily linked to your jawbone. You might be experiencing migraine associated with dental condition you develop:<\/p>\n\n\n\n