Putting a pencil between the teeth can cure a throbbing headache. The solution will lessen the pain brought about by tension located in the jaw area.
Most headaches are tension headaches brought about by stress, anxiety, tiredness and emotional upset, according to Dr. Jane Leonard, an aesthetic specialist. These tensions are normally spasms of the muscles in the face, jaw, neck and scalp, Daily Mail has reported.
Typically, patients hold their templates to indicate the source of the pain. Temples hold fan-shaped muscles that spread at the back of the head called temporalis.
When spasms occur, they are often related to the jaw muscles that come from jaw clenching or teeth grinding during sleep. This is also a sign of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction, which is an umbrella term for problems in the joint jaw function.
Since the jaw is one of the most complex joints in the body, problems arise when the cartilage disc between where the lower bone jaw meets the skull moves out of its usual position. The cartilage disc's original function is to help the jaw move smoothly.
One of the reasons why the disc becomes displaced is because of tooth grinding and clenching of the jaw. This causes the jaw muscles, which sit just in front of the ears, to become sore and go into spasm.
Age also plays in as a factor as wear and tear can make the joint arthritic. Pieces of the disc may break off and displace the disc and as a result, the joint becomes painful and inflamed.
While most pain settles down, five percent of people will have the disc badly displaced or cannot move back into position without surgery. When left untreated, the jaw can get permanently locked.
Holding a pencil between teeth can help relax the chewing muscles, which are in spasms during TMJ dysfunctions. This method also effectively unclenches the jaw that can help alleviate the stress.
However, this type of solution will only apply to tension headaches. It would not relieve pain caused by other types of headaches such as migraines, sinus and sleep-related headaches, according to Mother Nature Network.
