Do you often wake up in the morning with a terrible headache? Are you plagued by frequent migraines and tension headaches? It may be surprising, but your oral health can play an important role in causing headaches. The condition known as bruxism, which is characterized by the grinding and clenching of teeth (especially at night), can cause strain on the joints and nerves that connect your jaw to the skull. When damaged, inflamed, or stressed, these nerves and joints cause migraines and headaches.
Our experienced dentists at Riverfront Dental LLC, Dr. Howe and Dr. Dugan, provide a special dental appliance to help relieve pressure and stress on these delicate areas. The appliance is called NTI (nociceptive trigeminal inhibition) migraine and headache therapy. NTI migraine and headache treatment in Salem, Oregon utilizes a custom-made mouth guard to gently push the lower jaw forward and prevent teeth from grinding against each other. This mouth guard is made of comfortable plastic and is generally worn at night as you sleep to help relax your facial muscles and relieve tension placed on your facial nerves and joints. If you have headaches, especially when you wake up, consider learning more about NTI migraine and headache therapy. To schedule your consultation, we encourage you to contact our dental office today.