|
 The
field of migraine prevention therapy has been at somewhat
of a standstill. Although numerous drugs are now on
the market which are intended to subdue migraine pain
after the attack has already begun, preventing migraine
has been less than satisfactory.
However, research has found one
common factor to all migraine and tension-type headache
sufferers: tender and sore temple and scalp muscles
caused by intense and prolonged jaw clenching during
sleep. Not teeth grinding, but jaw clenching…and
there is a world of difference.
Established research has shown:
- Jaw clenching muscles of migraine suffers are 70%
larger in volume and generate significantly higher
bite forces than control subjects.
- Migraine sufferers who experience headaches soon
after or upon waking show significant evidence of
nocturnal jaw clenching.
- Tension-type headache patients contract their temporalis
muscles (clench their jaw) during sleep, on average,
14 times more intensely that asymptomatic controls.
 The
FDA has recently approved the first non-drug, no side-effect
method for migraine pain prevention, the NTI-tss, a
small and comfortable specialized mouthpiece which
covers only your upper two front teeth while you sleep.
The NTI-tss must be custom fitted by a dentist. And
why just the two front teeth? Because that prevents
the back molars and canine teeth from coming into contact.
Without those teeth contacting, jaw clenching intensity
is reduced by two-thirds!
In clinical trials, 82% of migraine sufferers who used
the NTI-tss for eight weeks had a 77% average reduction
in migraine attacks, and were continuing to improve
(details at the NTI-tss
web site). There were no side-effects or adverse
results. This is not to say the intense jaw clenching
alone is the cause of migraine, but does put research
back on track.
So for the best way to prevent migraine, instead of
putting a pill in your stomach, you put a device on
your teeth!
If you are experiencing frequent headaches you think
may be linked to one of the causes above, contact
us for an appointment. |
