Headaches and gum infections
 

I have had headaches and migraines for years. Several years ago, I found I could relieve my headaches if I could locate infections in the gums. I start by locating a spot which bleeds relatively easily (I think from food getting stuck in between the teeth in the pits), and then cleaning that area until the bleeding stops.
Even though I brush, floss, and use a waterpik religiously, I still have problems with this. Is there a procedure or something which could:confused: help with this? Has anyone else associated headaches with gum infections? I believe it has something to do with irritation of the trigeminal nerve.

hi Gordo

I never got headaches from the tooth/gum infections but I sure did get a "fuzzy" head from it, so I can see where it could trigger headaches.

Hopefully Bryanna will stop by and maybe have info on this for you

Cheri

Hi Gordo,
I frequently hear from patients who have gum problems, that they also get headaches. Can the two issues be linked....... sure, why not? Any chronic inflammation sends signals to the nerve endings in the face and the trigeminal nerve has many branches that could be affected by various degrees of inflammation. Once the inflammation subsides, through whatever means, the nerve pain quiets down as well.

I think the key here is to find out why your gums bleed and why you are developing gum infections. Do you see a dentist regularly? Have you been told that you have periodontal disease? Sometimes we need to change our oral hygiene habits to be more effective at removing plaque from the gumline and a hygienist can show you how to do that. Using a waterpik is a good idea, but only if you are using it on the lowest setting. The gum tissue next to the tooth is meant to be tight and not open because if open, it can trap bacteria causing infection. So using a water pik on anything other than a low setting can cause these area to open up creating pockets that trap debris and bacteria. Even if you flush the food from these pockets, bacteria still accumulate in them. Sometimes dental problems occur because the diet is high in starch or sugar. Other times it can be due to medications that cause dry mouth or cause the overgrowth of gum tissue.

The sure way to get a handle on your situation is to find out the cause of the infection/inflammation and find a solution to the problem. You may find that once the inflammation is brought under control, your headaches diminish or go away!

I hope this info is helpful to you. Let us know how you are doing!
Bryanna

It was for me thanks...............Sue

Your answer was illuminating! I know I have deep pockets in my gumline already, but did not realize that the waterpik could open them up further ( I was using it at it's medium power setting. That has been changed.). I will follow up with my dentist. Thank you!