Reviewed by Dr. Jared Nabeta, General Dentist (DDS)
Too little sleep can trigger a migraine headache. So, surprisingly, can too much. Irregular sleep, whether it’s a late night, an early alarm, or a weekend sleep-in that throws off your usual rhythm, is one of the most consistently reported migraine triggers, and the relationship runs in both directions: migraine can also disrupt sleep, so the two can feed each other.
The migraine brain relies heavily on the hypothalamus, the same region that governs your sleepwake cycle, to help regulate pain thresholds. When sleep is inconsistent, this shared control centre
struggles to keep the nervous system stable, lowering the threshold for an attack. Meanwhile, migraine pain itself, along with associated nausea and light sensitivity, makes falling and staying asleep harder, creating a cycle where each poor night makes the next headache more likely, and each headache makes the next night’s sleep worse.
Interestingly, some patients also experience a migraine headache upon waking after sleeping in later than usual, a reminder that the goal is consistency, not simply more sleep.
● Consistent bedtime and wake time, even on weekends
● Avoiding both too little and excessive sleep
● Limiting screens and caffeine close to bedtime
● Treating co-occurring insomnia or sleep apnea
● Keeping a sleep and headache diary together
If jaw pain or clenching is part of the picture, contact our Burlington dental office to book a TMD assessment.
To book a consultation, call Nabeta Dentistry at (905) 639-6701 or request an appointment online at NabetaDentistry.com/appointment-request. Dr. Jared Nabeta, General Dentist, assesses jaw pain and TMD, including headache related to TMD. Treatment for migraine is offered only for migraine diagnosed by a physician, alongside the patient’s physician.