The Basics Of Tmj Disorder
Headaches and discomfort while chewing can often be the result of a problem known as temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, disorder
. Below, find information about the condition, as well as how it is treated.
What Is the Purpose of the Temporomandibular Joint?
The TMJ, located just in front of both ears, is the point at which the upper and lower jaws meet. The TMJ comprises moving components that help the two jaws align. The joint resembles a ball and socket. That section of your jaw includes several muscles and tendons, all attached to your jawbones. Your muscles relax for you to open your mouth and tighten so that you can close it.
The joint is crucial for talking, eating and yawning. Of all of your joints, the TMJ is one of the most regularly used during the day.
What Is TMJ Disorder (TMD)?
If the mechanics mentioned above are misaligned in any number of ways, a person's mouth will not properly close. The problem perpetuates, as the wear and tear causes swelling and more damage. Over time, TMJ disorder can evolve to the point of incredible discomfort, debilitating headaches, worn, damaged teeth and more.
Symptoms can include, but are not limited to, a popping or clicking sound that occurs whenever a person chews, speaks or yawns. Sufferers might also experience a fatigued feeling around the back of the jaw or a dull headache. The headaches can become increasingly severe and persistent.
What Causes TMJ Disorder?
The cause can be completely natural and out of a person's control, or TMJ disorder can be the result of various dental procedures, or enhanced by such habits as nail-biting or gum-chewing. Trauma to the face has been known to cause TMJ disorder, as well. Stress is a common exasperator, as a person might subconsciously grind his teeth.
How Is TMJ Disorder Treated?
A dentist could recommend multiple treatments for TMJ disorder, ranging from jaw rest to corrective surgery. At a basic level, patients can relax the tension on their jawbones by keeping the teeth apart to avoid grinding. Sometimes, an oral appliance will be recommended, especially during sleep. Chewing gum or eating hard candy is not recommended, and the patient should avoid large food items, like giant hamburgers, that would force him to open his mouth to wide.
Some treatments target the symptoms themselves, such as pain. Heat and ice therapy can be used to relax the muscles, or anti-inflammatory medications - aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen, for example - can prevent painful muscle spasms. Other treatments could involve cold laser therapy and electronic muscle stimulation to enhance healing and to condition muscle memory.
More aggressive treatments include corrective dental therapy by way of orthodontics to adjust over- and under-bites, restorative dentistry for badly damaged teeth and, on the rare occasion, surgery.
by: Todd Snyder
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