4. An Aching Jaw
The ligaments, soft tissue, and muscles that run across the skull and connect to the jaw and neck share an intricate relationship. A traumatic head injury can create a butterfly effect of pain to another area of the head.
A sudden jerk or jolt to the body can “whip” the head from the centerline of the neck resulting in a common injury associated with concussion known as “whiplash.” During impact, displacement of the lower jaw from the skull occurs in the opposite direction of the whiplash movement. This dislocation of the lower jaw often causes toothache, headache, jaw pain, and earache.
If left untreated, the symptoms of whiplash and related injuries to the connective tissues and ligaments around the skull intensify. If aggravated, stress will spread to the other surrounding muscle groups and ligaments. These secondary symptoms of whiplash must be addressed immediately to avoid raising levels of intracranial hypertension.