Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

FDA approves new device which is superior to drugs, and without side effects.

THE field of migraine prevention therapy has been at somewhat of a standstill. Although numerous drugs are now on the market that are intended to subdue migraine pain after the attack has already begun, preventing migraine has been less than satisfactory.

However, research ahs 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 percent 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 percent of migraine sufferers who used the NTI-tss for eight weeks had a 77 percent average reduction in migraine attacks, and were continuing to improve (details at the NTI-tss website www.nti-tss.com). 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.

I myself, have been using the NTI for three years and I am happy to say that the frequency of my migraine attack have decreased tremendously.

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To find out if you would benefit from denture reline or new dentures, call Dr. De Leon for a free consultation at 650-697-9000. Dr. de Leon is with Millbrae Smile Center located at 15 El Camino Real, Millbrae CA . She is a member of American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, Academy of Laser Dentistry, ADA,CDA, SMCDS And AGD.

( www.asianjournal.com )

( Published on March 19, 2009 in Asian Journal Las Vegas p. B6 )