Dental X-rays cause migraine

 I had full mouth dental X-rays (18 views) yesterday and I had the worst migraine headache I have ever had. Do X-rays contribute to triggering migraines?

 

Good Afternoon Ann,
Thanks for your reply. I have been suffering from diagnosed Migraines for a little over a year. I have been averaging one headache per week although sometimes two or three weeks will pass without a Migraine. I have had an MRI and have seen a Neurologist.
For at least 15 years I have had Migraine type headaches but the Allergist I was seeing at the time told me that they were sinus headaches and had me take OTC sinus headache meds. That seemed to work until a year ago when the headaches became more often and were more painful. They would wake me up around 3:00 in the morning and last for several hours. I talked to my Internist and he had me have the MRI and gave me samples of Imitrex. He said that if the Imitrex worked for my headaches that I was having Migraines. The Imitrex usually works in about 1 1/2 hours but last night two hours went by with no relief so I took another pill. (50 mg) I was finally able to get to sleep for a few hours. Yesterday was a very stressful day for me. At the Dental office I had my teeth cleaned, the X-rays taken and a device made for my front teeth to keep my jaw from clenching during the night. It is called an NTI TSS. I didn't use it last night since the headache was already so bad that I didn't want to try anything new that might cause any additional stress to my Jaw or temple area where I get the horrible Migraine pain.
I am much older than the usual Migraine sufferer. I am 74 years old and active and in general good health. I understand that it is unusual to begin to have Migraines at my age. Although my MRI did not show anything unusual I did show that many years ago I had a very small, unknown to me, stroke. The Neurologist said that it could be as long ago as 20 years. He said that that would not be the cause of my headaches.
I appreciate your reply to my email. It is so nice to have a place to ask questions and get such a fast reply. It is also helpful to read others posts and the replies.
Thank you again.
Beachgal

 The bright light in my face at the Dentist makes a lot of sense. I will take your advice and wear my sunglasses next visit to the Dentist. Any other hints would be appreciated. Thank you.

Beachgal.

Thank you for your reply telling me about the cardboard X-film holders putting stress on my jaw during the dental X-rays. I did feel a lot of discomfort at the time when the X-rays were being taken. It makes a lot of sense that the procedure could cause a migraine to flare up.

On another subject, Magnesium for help preventing Migraines, I wonder if anyone has ever tried Magnesium tablets before bedtime to help prevent a migraine from coming on during sleep. I have been told that taking 300-400 mgs before going to sleep can help prevent a migraine from starting. Has anyone else ever heard about this and if it could possibly give some relief from waking up in the middle of the night or early morning with a terrible migraine?