Toothaches and Other Aches

We all know that toothaches are a bad thing to experience, even if we never had one. The secret is in the name, anything with ache in it is something that we want to avoid. Did you know that the pain from a toothache isn’t limited to our teeth? A toothache may start in the mouth, but it can spread to other areas, causing various kinds of pains and illnesses. This is why dental health is so important, much like a single seed can become an oak tree, one tooth ache can become a migraine.

How can a toothache cause problems with other parts of the body? There are a few ways actually, and luckily all of them are preventable with proper dental care. Before we talk about how to prevent or resolve these issues, let’s look at the causes first.

Muscle Tension: Many headaches can be caused by muscle strain or contractions. This can occur in the mouth or jaw, leading to a headache. Hold a muscle tight for too long, rather it’s because of pain or voluntarily, and it can begin to get worn out and start hurting. The signs that this is being caused by your mouth is

• feeling a pain behind your eyes,
• sore jaw muscles,
• teeth grinding,
• popping jaw joints,
• a headache that hurts when touched.

Heart Problems: That’s right, bad teeth may be responsible for heart problems. While this is an area that is still being researched, there seem to be many links that people with bad dental health, also suffer from heart complications, and there are several reasons why this could be happening, including inflammation. Some researchers have even found that poorly maintained teeth and bleeding gums can allow over 700 different kinds of bacteria to enter the body, increasing the chances of a heart attack.

Diabetes: For those with diabetes, their condition can have effects on their dental health, but it can also be the other way around. Research suggests that poor dental health can hasten the progression of diabetes by affecting the body’s blood glucose control.

So how do you combat these serious health problems caused by having bad teeth? The answer is simple, you don’t get bad teeth. Brushing and flossing regularly will help keep your teeth healthy, while visiting us once every six months at Drs. Costello and Drake will catch any complications before they take hold. Having served as recommended Ormond Beach Cosmetic Dentists for years now, we are experienced in building and maintaining people’s smiles. If you are ready to take your health seriously, schedule a check up today.