Many people suffer from temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder (TMD), but have no idea what it is. To make matters worse, most do not understand the source of their pain, and neither do many doctors. And when the source is unknown, it is hard to find a proper treatment plan. Fortunately, though, your dentist can help. Let’s take a look at TMJ pain and how you can find relief from your jaw pain.
What is TMD?
The TMJ connects the lower jaw at the temporal bone while most disorders of the TMJ have symptoms of pain or a “clicking” sound when you open and close your mouth, or chew food. Some signs and symptoms associated with TMD include:
- Grinding and clenching teeth.
- Sore, stiff muscles around the jaw.
- Frequent headaches or neck aches
- Pain worsens when teeth are clenched.
- Clicking jaw when opening mouth.
- Painful to eat and yawn.
- Arthritis problems.
- Teeth meet differently.
What are the causes?
It depends. That is because TMJ problems can develop for many reasons. For one, clenching and grinding of the teeth can stress the TMJ joint. Injury or disease of the mouth can also contribute to TMD.
But whatever the cause may be, you will most likely have a misaligned bite, pain, and a clicking noise when you open your mouth and it may also be difficult to open your mouth wide.
It’s time to seek treatment for TMD
TMD can be treated with a variety of different options. However, one important and very successful form of treatment is oral appliance therapy, which is offered at Craniofacial Pain & Dental Sleep Center of Georgia. The use of oral appliance therapy is beneficial in providing relief from the pressure of an improper bite and other conditions.
