Head trauma can sometimes cause you to feel pain or a weird sensation in your teeth, even if your teeth themselves weren't directly impacted. This sensation is likely due to an injury to the nerves in your head.
How Head Trauma Affects Your Teeth
Here's a breakdown of how a head injury can lead to dental sensations:
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Nerve Involvement: Head injuries can affect the trigeminal nerve, which is responsible for sensation in the face, including the teeth and jaw. Damage or irritation to this nerve can manifest as tooth pain, tingling, or numbness, even without any direct dental trauma.
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Referred Pain: Pain can sometimes be "referred" from one area of the body to another. A head injury might cause pain in the jaw muscles, which can then radiate to the teeth, making them feel sore or sensitive.
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Muscle Tension: Head trauma often leads to muscle tension in the head, neck, and jaw. This tension can put pressure on the teeth and jaw joint (TMJ), resulting in a feeling of discomfort or weirdness in the teeth.
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Concussion Symptoms: Tooth pain or sensitivity can sometimes be a symptom of a concussion, even if it's not the most common one.
What to Do
If you experience unusual sensations in your teeth after hitting your head, it's important to:
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Seek Medical Evaluation: See a doctor or neurologist to assess the head injury and rule out any serious complications, such as a concussion or nerve damage.
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Consult a Dentist: If the dental sensations persist, consult your dentist to check for any underlying dental issues and receive appropriate treatment. The dentist can also evaluate if the TMJ is involved.
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Manage Symptoms: Depending on the cause, you may benefit from pain relievers, muscle relaxants, physical therapy, or other treatments to manage the symptoms.
In summary, the feeling of your teeth being weird after a head injury is often related to nerve involvement, referred pain, muscle tension, or a combination of these factors. Prompt medical and dental evaluation is crucial to identify the underlying cause and receive appropriate treatment.
