Is there a link to Clenching teeth and migraines?

Question

I've suffered from mild migraines(without aura) for most of my life adult life.  Recently, they became really severe and frequent.  The year before last, I was having one a week, with each one lasting 3-4 days, my life was on hold.   Being off food and vomiting made me lose loads of weight too. I was desperate but being into holistic medicine didn't want to pump my body with betablockers or any other drugs offered to me for prevention.

I've kept a food and emotions diary since 2007, stopped eating so many foods linked to migraine...I lost so much weight and searched for help on the internet.

I came across info on the net about how night time clenching could be connected to migraines.  I asked my dentist and he made me biteguard which I've been wearing on and off since Feb 08.  What I've noticed is when I wear it, I have fewer and less severe migraines.  Having reintroduced caffeine, chocolate, cheese and even alcohol into my diet again, I've been ok the periods when I've not been wearing the biteguard..  When I don't wear it, I will definately have a migraine during my time of the month, but the times when I've been wearing it, my periods are migraine free.

When I stop wearing it, and I know I've clenched (teeth are sore first thing in morning), I'm more prone to getting them.  Even a tiny sip of alcohol will give me a nasty migraine.  One cup of coffee will start one too.  Hormonal changes will trigger one.  

I'm not saying that clenching gives me a migraine; but that I am more vulnerable to them the days when I've been clenching my teeth in my sleep.  Perhaps there is a build up of muscle tension from cumlative clenching night after night.  

I also get tension headaches which are completely different to migraine and not triggered by migraine triggers.

Is there any medical reason for this? If there is a link to clenching and migraines?  I know how debilitaiting my migraines are.  Most times I can only curl up in bed until the sickness is bearable.  So many days have been wasted for me, my career has suffered.  If there is a link here, why is the medical profession ignoring this? I want to shout this message to all your readers and wish them all a quick safe recovery from this nasty disease called migraine.

DrNoopurMD · Answer

Hi,

Thanks for posting.
There is no direct correlation between clenching of teeth and migraine. Clenching of teeth results in TMJ which can cause one sided temple pain and throbbing.
Howvever there have been reports that in migraineurs clenching of teeth can precipitate an attack.
http://www.drjimboyd.com/book/11th_sth.htm
Hope this helps!

confused1950 · Answer

I think the medical field is not acquainted with it. My dentist treats TMJ as well as the normal dental stuff, and I was very fortunate to have found a local dentist that treated it. I have had it for a number of years, but last year my left jaw became frozen and I went to a surgeon. He said surgery would be needed to unfreeze the jaw, but a former dentist that treated my TMJ said that surgery should be the last resort. I located my current dentist on the internet and emailed him with some questions. Since I've received treatment before I kinda knew what questions to ask, and I was impressed with his response. After going to the surgeon I stopped by his office and set up an appointment and within 3 or 4 months my jaw was okay.

pret51 · Answer

Hi confused 1950

Yes, he did say clenching can lead to TMJ.  But  he didn't know the link between TMJ and migraines. He said to give it a try and see if it makes any difference.  It has made a difference for me and as there is some research on the internet about it, I still don't know why the medical profession that I've contacted are turning a blind eye.