If you suffer from tooth pain, jaw pain, headaches, neck pain, or any combination thereof, there could be a number of things causing your trouble. For instance, if your teeth are misaligned, they could be putting pressure on your jaw bone and muscles, which could cause your headaches and neck pain.

One surprising source of pain is something called “occlusal interference” – in other words, your teeth are getting in each other’s way. Teeth are supposed to align with each other in a very certain way ensuring that contact and pressure during chewing is evenly distributed. If this intended contact is interfered with or compromised in some way, you could be putting serious pressure on specific spots along your jaw, which could result in pain.

The solution to occlusal interference is different with each case, but it usually involves the placement of a stent to help teeth re-align. If you’re experiencing pain that could be the result of mis-alignment or interference, make an appointment with your dentist.