1. Tension Headaches: are the most common, affecting more than 75% of all headache sufferers. As many as 90% of adults have had tension headaches.

Tension headaches usually involve a steady ache, rather than a throbbing one, are described as a feeling of pressure or tightening, may last minutes to days, affect both sides of the head, and do not worsen with routine physical activity. It may also be accompanied by hypersensitivity to light and noise. Some people get tension (and migraine) headaches because of stressful events. Tension headaches may also be chronic, occurring frequently or daily.

Rebound Headache: Rebound headaches may occur among people with tension headaches, as well as in those with migraines. It can be the result of taking prescription or nonprescription pain relievers daily or almost every day, contrary to directions on the package label. If prescription or nonprescription pain relievers are overused, headaches may 'rebound' as the last dose wears off--leading you to take more and more pills. Break that cycle!

2. Cervicogenic Headaches: come from disorders of the neck. They are often brought on by neck movement and/or sustained awkward head positioning (such as painting the ceiling or washing the floor). There may also be stiffness in the neck or shoulder and arm pain accompanying the headaches.

3. Migraine Headaches: are less common than tension headaches, but still afflict 25 to 30 million people in the United States As many as 6% of all men, and up to 18% of all women experience a migraine headache at some time.

Migraines may last 4-72 hours and involve the entire head. They can cause throbbing and are aggravated by routine physical activity.

Nausea, sensitivity to light and sound often accompany migraines. An "aura" may occur before head pain begins-- involving a disturbance in vision, and/or an experience of brightly colored or blinking lights in a pattern that moves across the field of vision. About one in five migraine sufferers experiences an aura.

Usually, migraine attacks are occasional, or sometimes as often as once or twice a week, but rarely occur daily.

4. Cluster Headaches: are pretty rare, affecting about 1% of the population. They are different from migraine and tension headaches. Most cluster headache sufferers are male -- about 85%.

Cluster headaches come in groups or clusters lasting weeks or months. The pain is extremely severe but the attack is brief, lasting no more than an hour or two. The pain centers around one eye, and this eye may be inflamed and watery. There may also be nasal congestion on the affected side of the face.

These "alarm clock" headaches may strike in the middle of the night, and often occur at about the same time each day during the course of a cluster. A history of heavy smoking and drinking is common, and alcohol often triggers attacks.

These are some common oral issues that can cause both a headache and tooth pain:

TMJ : If you have consistent headaches or migraines, they may be caused by temporomandibular disorders (TMD) or more commonly known as issues with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

Pain relievers of various types are the most common approach to headaches. In our practice we take a more natural approach. Our objective is to find and reduce the underlying cause of a headache. During an examination, Allison O'Brien will perform orthopedic types of tests on the TMJ which allow us to assess the current status of joint form and function. If you have joint pain, we will determine exactly which structure(s) are involved in order to make a diagnosis.

Incorrect Bite : If you have consistent headaches and have ruled out organic causes and the only effective treatment is pain medication, you need to consider a dental bite problem as a possible cause especially if you typically have a one-sided headache/migraine or one-sided neck pain or shoulder pain. The typical bite-related headaches are felt in the suboccipitals, temporalis, and/or migraine.

Teeth Grinding , also called Bruxism, can be caused by stress, misaligned teeth or nerve and muscle diseases in the face. Symptoms can include morning headaches, grinding sounds at night, tight jaw muscles and cracked or damaged teeth.

Toothaches : cavities or gum issues can cause headaches. If you think your headache and tooth pain are related, schedule an appointment with Allison O'Brien. Note any oral issues that occur in conjunction with the headache . If the two are linked, we should be able to diagnose and suggest a course of treatment not only for the oral care issue but also to provide relief from headaches.