Why Your Headaches Keep Coming Back (And What the Time of Day Might Be Telling You)

If you deal with headaches or migraines on a regular basis, you've probably asked yourself, "Why do I keep getting these?"

While there are many possible causes of headaches, one thing I always pay attention to is when they tend to show up. The timing can sometimes give us clues about what's contributing to them.

As a massage therapist who specializes in TMJ dysfunction and jaw pain, I see this all the time. Tight jaw muscles, clenching, grinding, and stress can all create muscle tension that refers pain into the temples, forehead, face, neck, and even behind the eyes.

Let's break it down.

Morning Headaches: Are You Clenching or Grinding in Your Sleep?

If you regularly wake up with a headache, sore jaw, or tight neck, your body may have been working all night while you thought you were resting.

Many people clench or grind their teeth during sleep (bruxism) without realizing it. Even if your partner has never heard you grinding, you could still be clenching. Clenching doesn't always make noise.

Some common signs include:

• Waking up with a headache

• Jaw soreness first thing in the morning

• Tightness around the temples

• Neck stiffness

• Teeth that feel sensitive or worn down

Your jaw muscles are incredibly strong. If they're contracting for hours overnight, it's no surprise they can leave you waking up feeling sore and exhausted.

Afternoon or Evening Headaches: Stress Might Be Showing Up in Your Body

If your headaches tend to build throughout the day, stress may be playing a role.

One of the biggest misconceptions I hear is:

"I don't clench my teeth during the day."

Maybe you don't.

But here's the interesting part...

Your teeth don't actually have to be touching for your jaw muscles to stay tense.

When we're stressed, concentrating, driving, answering emails, or juggling a hundred things at once, our nervous system often keeps our muscles in a low level of contraction. That constant muscle tension can eventually overload the muscles around the jaw, temples, face, and neck.

Over several hours, that tension can become the headache that shows up around 3 p.m. or after dinner.

A Quick Jaw Check-In

Take a second and notice what's happening right now.

• Are your teeth touching?

• Is your tongue resting on the roof of your mouth?

• Are your shoulders creeping toward your ears?

• Can you feel tension in your temples or cheeks?

For most people, your teeth should only touch briefly when chewing or swallowing.

The rest of the day, your lips can stay together while there's a small space between your upper and lower teeth. Your jaw muscles get a chance to relax, and your joints aren't under constant pressure.

It's a simple habit, but for many people it takes conscious practice.

When Your Jaw Causes Pain Somewhere Else

One of the reasons TMJ dysfunction can be so frustrating is that it doesn't always hurt where you'd expect.

The muscles that move your jaw can refer pain into your:

• Temples

• Forehead

• Behind the eyes

• Cheeks

• Ears

• Neck

• Shoulders

Because of that, many people spend months treating "headaches" without realizing the jaw muscles may be contributing to the problem.

Can TMJ Massage Help?

If muscle tension is part of what's driving your headaches, treatment focused on the jaw and surrounding muscles may help reduce that tension.

At Salve Bodywork + Massage, I assess not only the jaw, but also the muscles of the face, neck, shoulders, and upper chest. Depending on what's appropriate, treatment may also include intraoral (buccal) massage, which allows me to work muscles that simply can't be reached from the outside.

Every person is different, and headaches can have many different causes. Massage isn't the answer for every headache, but if your symptoms seem connected to jaw tension, clenching, grinding, or stress, it's worth exploring.

The Bottom Line

If you're getting headaches, don't just pay attention to where they hurt.

Pay attention to when they happen.

• Morning headaches may point toward nighttime clenching or grinding.

• Afternoon or evening headaches may suggest that stress is slowly building muscle tension throughout the day.

• And remember—even if your teeth aren't touching, your jaw muscles can still be working harder than they need to.

Our bodies are good at giving us clues. Sometimes we just have to learn how to listen.

If you're in the Kansas City area and have been dealing with headaches, jaw pain, facial tension, or TMJ symptoms, I'd love to help you figure out whether your muscles could be part of the picture.