Temporomandibular Joint Disorder: All About TMJ

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder: All About TMJ

October 15, 2015  | IN TMJ DISORDER

Your everyday aches, pains, and discomforts can be a normal part of your life, or they may signal a more serious problem. If you have jaw pain with its accompanying clicking and popping, you are experiencing one of the most annoying of life’s discomforts. Caused by improper alignment of the jaw, TMJ is experienced by over 10 million Americans.

Your temporomandibular joint is a hinge that connects your jaw to the temporal bones of your skull, which are in front of each ear. It allows you to move your jaw up and down and side to side to talk, chew, and yawn. TMJ – which affects the joints – can make even the simplest jaw movements painful and annoying.

For some, TMJ is temporary, and its symptoms resolve independently or with some DIY care.

For others, TMJ can cause chronic pain and needs to be addressed professionally.

Are there other symptoms?

In addition to jaw pain and stiffness, you may have headaches, feel dizzy, neck and shoulder pain, ringing in your ears, eye discomfort, jaw locking, and other types of pain and numbness. Sometimes TMJ manifests in the hands and the back. In extreme cases, people with TMJ can barely move their jaw.

However, even in combination, these symptoms may not mean you have TMJ.

At StarWhite Dental, we can evaluate your symptoms to suggest your best treatment options if you think you may have TMJ.

Whether you are experiencing just a bit of cracking or a lot of pain, you can start with some home care:

  • Avoid hard-to-chew or crunchy foods
  • Apply heat or cold packs
  • Perform relaxation exercises to help eliminate jaw clenching
  • Stretch your jaw, neck and shoulders often
  • We may also recommend that you:
  • Take anti-inflammatory painkillers or stronger prescription medication if needed
  • Wear a mouth guard at night to stop teeth grinding

If you think you may be experiencing TMJ and would like to know more, call StarWhite Dental for a consultation appointment today. Your teeth, your health, and you are important to us!

Dental Implants

A Dental implant is a tooth made of a titanium post with a replacement tooth (crown) attached to the top. Dental implants can replace a single tooth, several teeth, anchor a dental bridge, or a full arch of teeth.

Wisdom Teeth Removal

If you’ve been told that you need to have one or more of your wisdom teeth removed by our dentist, you may be wondering, especially if you are not currently experiencing any painful symptoms. So, if you want your wisdom teeth removal visit StarWhite Dental.

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