Oral tori mostly occurs in individuals with parafunctional habits like teeth clenching or bruxism. People with bruxism may have temporomandibular joint disorders or severe headaches due to the grinding of teeth. Most patients with tori have parafunctional habits and also suffer from migraine according to the research.
Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) is the second most common cause of chronic pain. It makes it hard, sometimes even impossible, to eat and talk, and often causes headaches.
These headaches may feel like any other headache or like a tension headache, but they tend to occur and recur in one or more regions of the head and/or face. You may also feel facial tightness/pain, or jaw tightness/pain/clicking. You might also experience a change in your bite.
Popping sounds, possibly with pain. Not opening your mouth very wide because you're afraid of pain or afraid your jaw will lock. Moving your jaw to one side rather than straight down when you open your mouth. Wear and tear on your teeth from grinding or clenching them.
Headaches / Migraines
There are a few TMJ-related causes for tension headaches. Constant contraction of muscle fibers within a muscle, create tension, pressure or a tight feeling in the face and head, but constant tight muscle fibers prevent or reduce blood flow to that area.
A TMJ headache is face, cheek, and head pain caused by a TMJ disorder. This disorder causes pain in the temporomandibular joint—the joint that connects the jaw to the skull—which spreads upwards to other areas of the head.
In most cases tori are benign and do not require treatment. However, tori will need to be surgically removed to accommodate upper or lower dentures and upper or lower partial dentures (flippers). Tori may also be removed to aid in minimizing food impaction under the excess bone, which will promote improved home care.
Torus mandibularis is thought to be caused mainly by environmental factors, such as bruxism, vitamin deficiencies and calcium-rich supplements, although genetic background also plays a key role. Clinical diagnosis is usually straightforward, and investigations are generally not required.
There are many reasons behind tori development. Genetics, tooth grinding and bite issues can result in local stress, which can lead to the development of these bony growths. In most cases, tori have a silent, unnoticed growth.
The most common causes are headache, migraine, or infection. Most conditions that cause pressure in the head go away on their own or respond to over-the-counter pain medication. However, intense or persistent pressure in the head may indicate a severe underlying medical condition.
What kind of headache does bruxism cause? Tension headaches often result from bruxism and can continue for hours or even days. Tension headaches feel like a steady, dull aching or pressure on both sides of the head.
Jaw pain and headaches are among the most well-known symptoms that arise from jaw joint problems. However, other issues caused by temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) may surprise you. For example, this condition can cause sudden feelings of dizziness and spinning.
Since the TM joint resides adjacent to the ears, it's common to experience many TMJ symptoms in the ears. Patients can experience ear pain or clogged ears that they might pass off as an ear infection or allergies but is actually from TMD. TMD can also cause tinnitus (ringing in the ears from nerve irritation).
Additionally, TMJ has been associated with a range of neurological disorders, including headaches, dizziness, and tingling or numbness in the face or jaw. While the exact causes of TMJ are not always clear, treatments such as physical therapy, medications, and surgery can often help manage the symptoms.
Headaches from TMJ disorder may come and go or they may be chronic as the disorder progresses and worsens over time. These headaches usually feel as if they're originating behind the eyes and because of this, they're often misdiagnosed as migraines.
The best medicines for TMJ pain are over-the-counter painkillers and anti-inflammatories, such as Tylenol and ibuprofen. In some extreme circumstances, a dentist may prescribe something stronger, but even then it's likely to be a prescription ibuprofen, not opioid painkiller.
Generally, you can expect a TMJ flare-up to last anywhere from a few hours to a few days. In rare cases, TMJ flare-ups can last for several weeks. If your TMJ symptoms don't resolve within this timeframe, talk to your orthodontist about possible treatment options.
Chronic cluster, migraine, or tension headaches may be mistaken for TMJ disorder, especially since TMJ disorder itself can cause such headaches. Chronic sinus pain and sinus infections can also produce pain around the temples that can feel like TMJ disorder.
While there are several reasons a patient can experience sudden or severe jaw pain, inflammation and overworked muscles tend to be the most common causes of TMJ flare-ups. Many physical changes and lifestyle habits can contribute to swelling around the joint and muscle tension.
When TMJ affects the eyes, the symptoms can include pressure that builds behind the eye sockets. Some people may also experience blurry vision. TMJ often causes tension headaches, which can contribute to blurry vision and pressure behind the eyes. Sufferers can also have pain around their eyes due to TMJ.
The typical headache that occurs with TMJ is a tight, dull aching headache. It is most commonly on one side, but can be on both. Normally, it is worse on the side where the TMJ is worse. The headache is aggravated by jaw movement and relieves with jaw relaxation.