A common but little-known cause of headache has been identified

If you are regularly bothered by a dull, aching headache, it may not be due to fatigue or migraine attacks. According to orthodontist Irina Didenko, one of the underestimated causes of tension headaches can be hypertonicity of the masticatory muscles caused by malocclusion. She stated this in a conversation with "Gazeta.Ru".

"When occlusion is disturbed, the load on the dentofacial system is distributed unevenly, and overstrain of the masticatory muscles can develop. This leads to their chronic spasm, which is associated with tension headaches," Didenko explained.

According to the specialist, with prolonged muscle hypertonicity, the muscles become a source of constant discomfort. Most often, patients complain of pressing pain in the temporal or occipital area, a feeling of heaviness in the head, and fatigue that does not go away even after rest.

Signs of malocclusion may not be obvious. Increased enamel wear, clicks or crunching in the temporomandibular joints, difficulty chewing, frequent pain in the face and neck area. Often patients complain of a feeling of "fatigue" in the jaws after prolonged talking or eating.

Malocclusion can also provoke bruxism - involuntary grinding or clenching of teeth, most often during sleep.

"Bruxism increases the overstrain of the masticatory muscles and is often accompanied by morning headaches, feelings of being broken and tired. Over time, this can negatively affect the condition of the teeth, causing cracks in the tooth enamel and increased sensitivity," noted the orthodontist.

According to Didenko, the problem can be eliminated with orthodontic treatment - correction of the bite with braces or more modern aligners. During treatment, aligners help relieve tension in the masticatory muscles and also prevent tooth wear. Therefore, experienced doctors often choose this method for such clinical cases.

"Many patients are surprised that after correcting their bite, not only does their smile improve, but their headaches go away, their sleep normalizes, and their general well-being improves. In fact, there is nothing surprising about this, because our body is a unified system where everything is interconnected and in which the bite plays a big role," the expert added.

The doctor emphasized that with regular headaches, especially those accompanied by teeth grinding, morning fatigue, or pain in the jaw area, it is worth consulting an orthodontist. "Proper diagnosis and a comprehensive approach will help eliminate not the symptoms, but the very cause of the problem," concluded Didenko.