TMJ Awareness Month: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention

Do you know what TMJ is? Chances are, you have heard of it before, but may not know exactly what it is. TMJ is short for temporomandibular joint, which is the joint that connects your jaw to your skull. This month is dedicated to raising awareness about TMJ disorders and the various symptoms, treatments, and prevention methods available. In this blog post, we will discuss everything you need to know about TMJ disorder!

What is TMJ?

TMJ is a disorder that affects the temporomandibular joint. This joint is responsible for connecting your jaw to your skull, and it allows you to move your jaw up and down and side to side. TMJ disorders can cause pain and discomfort in the jaw area, as well as headaches, neck pain, and earache.

Symptoms

Common symptoms include pain in the area of the jaw joint and/or limited jaw movement, clicking and locking. However, there are other medical conditions that mimic TMJ symptoms. Keep in mind that occasional clicking or discomfort in the jaw joint or chewing muscles is common and is not always a cause for concern. For many, the symptoms go away on their own after a period of time, even without treatment– similar to a sprained ankle. 

Other symptoms of TMJ can include:

• Pain or tenderness in your face, jaw joint area, neck and shoulders, and in or around the ear when you chew, speak, or open your mouth wide
• Problems when you try to open your mouth wide
• Jaws that get “stuck” or “lock” in the open- or closed-mouth position
• Clicking, popping, or grating sounds in the jaw joint when you open or close your mouth or chew. This may or may not be painful.
• A tired feeling in your face
• Trouble chewing or a sudden uncomfortable bite — as if the upper and lower teeth are not fitting together properly
• Swelling on the side of your face

Causes

TMJ disorder can be caused by injury to the jaw joints or surrounding tissues. Other causes include:

• Bruxism (teeth grinding/clenching)
• Dislocation of the disc between the ball and socket joint
• Arthritis in the TMJ
• Stress
• Acute trauma
• An improper bite

Treatment

The treatment for TMJ disorder will vary depending on the severity of the condition. For mild cases, over-the-counter pain relievers and ice packs may be enough to provide relief. For more severe cases, your doctor may recommend orthodontic care, physical therapy, splint or mouth guard therapy, or surgery.

How Can a Dentist Help?

If you are experiencing any symptoms of TMJ disorder, it is important to see a dentist or doctor as soon as possible. They will be able to properly diagnose the condition and recommend the best course of treatment.

At our office, we offer a variety of services that can help with TMJ disorder. These include:

• Orthodontic Care: We can help to realign your teeth and jaw in order to improve your bite and reduce stress on the TMJ.
• Physical Therapy: We offer physical therapy services that can help to stretch and strengthen the muscles around the TMJ.
• Splint or Mouth Guard Therapy: We can fabricate a custom splint or mouth guard that you can wear at night to protect the TMJ from bruxism (teeth grinding/clenching).
• Surgery: In severe cases, surgery may be necessary to correct the alignment of the jaw or to repair damaged tissue.

Prevention

There are several things you can do to help prevent TMJ disorder, or at least reduce your risk of developing the condition. These include:

• Avoiding gum chewing
• Practicing good posture
• Eating a soft diet
• Exercising regularly
• Managing stress
• Avoiding clenching or grinding your teeth

If you are experiencing any symptoms of TMJ disorder, be sure to see a dentist or doctor as soon as possible. With proper treatment, you can reduce your pain and discomfort and get back to enjoying your life!

Make an Appointment with Glacier Creek Dental

If you are experiencing any symptoms of TMJ disorder, don’t hesitate to make an appointment with Glacier Creek Dental today. We will work with you to create a treatment plan that is tailored to your specific needs. Make an appointment with us today!