Oral Inflammation May Play a Role in Migraine and Tension Headaches
Studies conducted at Westchester Medical Center and New York Medical College found that a significant number of severe migraine and tension headaches may be linked to inflammation in a small area above the upper molars. Researchers discovered that treating this tender, inflamed region could relieve headaches without the use of medication.
In these studies, 80% of patients with severe headaches experienced meaningful relief within 40 minutes after treatment.
The inflamed tissue above the upper teeth appears to irritate nearby nerves, triggering pain that radiates into a headache. To relieve this irritation, researchers used a device called the Intra-Oral Vasoconstriction (IVC) device, which cools the inflamed area. Reducing swelling takes pressure off the affected nerves, allowing the headache to subside.
To identify this oral–headache connection, investigators checked for tenderness and measured the temperature above the upper molars. Patients with one-sided headaches consistently had a higher temperature and more tenderness on the symptomatic side. Dr. Mark Friedman, a dentist and Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine and of Anatomy and Cell Biology at New York Medical College, served as the principal investigator.
Researchers also evaluated a topical anti-inflammatory gel applied to the same oral area for headache prevention. The results were promising: daily use led to an 81% reduction in “Headache Burden”—a measure calculated by multiplying total monthly headache hours by average pain intensity—and significantly reduced patients’ reliance on analgesic medications.
