Many of us grind or clench our teeth from time to time – either because of stress or by habit. Normally it won’t cause any harm but when it starts to happen on a regular basis, bruxism can lead to headaches or even migraines.

Dr Elliot Shevel, South Africa’s pioneer in the field of migraine surgery and the medical director of The Headache Clinic, says bruxism is a common problem and a common cause of headaches and migraines.

Two recent studies focused on grinding patterns in migraine patients and the incidence of headaches related to occlusion (the way the teeth of the lower and upper jaws fit together when the jaws are closed) and bite-force imbalance (malocclusion).

Grinding patterns

The first study, published in The Journal of Craniomandibular Practice, showed that a large number of migraine sufferers who grind their teeth usually grind over a large area of the mouth, particularly in the molar region. The study involved a total of 80 women who had been diagnosed with migraines and 52 women with no history of migraines.

The results showed a significant difference in the distribution of grinding patterns between the two groups. The proportion of grinding area at all sites was significantly larger in the migraine group.

Bite patterns

The second study, published in the Medicina oral Patologia Oral Cirugia Bucal, used a digital occlusal anaylser to evaluate the bite. After their bite was adjusted and optimised, the migraine suffers reported a decrease in headaches.

“Many people grind their teeth at night while they sleep. The most common symptoms are a constant, dull headache during the day and jaw pain,” says Dr Shevel.