6 Things You Must Know About TMJ Treatment

6 Things You Must Know About TMJ Treatment

Mar 01, 2022

The temporomandibular joint is like a hinge and joins the jawbones to the skull. The temporomandibular joints are placed on either side of the jaws, below the ears, and are responsible for speaking, smiling, chewing, and laughing.

What is TMD?

Dysfunction of the temporomandibular joints leads to immense pain and restricted movement of the jaws. TMJ disorder can cause compromised movement of the jaws, leading to difficulties in chewing or talking. In severe cases, you may experience clicking sounds in the jaws, leading to permanent locking of the jaws.

Damage to the temporomandibular joint can lead to localized pain and discomfort. The cause of such disorder can be trauma or underlying medical conditions.

The temporomandibular joint disorders can also be caused by inflammation of the temporomandibular joints. Tooth grinding is another cause of TMD. Swelling on the sides of the jaws and nerve inflammation are some of the basic symptoms of TMD.

Risk Factors of TMJ Syndrome

Several risk factors lead to TMJ disorder, the primary being:

  • Women in the age group of 18 to 44 years.
  • Stress might lead to clenching of the jaws and an increase of muscular tension.
  • Poor posture of the neck and back might lead to strain in the neck and cause abnormalities in muscle function.
  • Patients with chronic inflammatory arthritis have a higher risk of suffering from TMJ disorder.
  • People with poorly positioned teeth or jaw trauma run a higher risk of TMJ disorder.
  • People with increased pain response and genetic predisposition to pain are more prone to TMJ disorder.

Causes of Temporomandibular Joint Disorder

Although multiple factors contribute to temporomandibular joint disorder, medical professionals are yet to understand the exact reasons leading to TMD. Muscular tightness or strain can be the primary reason for TMD. The other factors leading to the temporomandibular joint disorder are:

  • Malocclusion of the jaws or dental trauma
  • Bruxism or grinding of the teeth
  • Anxiety and stress
  • Poor posture
  • Orthodontic braces
  • Excessive chewing of gums
  • Arthritis and musculoskeletal disorders

Symptoms of TMJ

Immense pain in the jaws is the primary symptom of temporomandibular joint disorder. Since the temporomandibular joint is placed on either side of the jaws, below the ears, pain in the ear, nose, eyes, face, head, or neck can be a sign of temporomandibular joint disorder. The other symptoms of the temporomandibular joint disorder are:

  • Clicking or popping of the jaws
  • Pain in the teeth that might seem like a normal toothache
  • Pain and tenderness in the jaws while speaking or chewing
  • Sounds of cracking in the ear
  • Ear pain along with popping sounds in the ear

Why Practice TMJ Treatment?

The temporomandibular joint disorder can be an annoying and painful ailment. A dentist in 76266 can help you with the primary diagnosis and treatment. Prescribed drugs, including pain relievers and anti-inflammatories, can reduce the pain temporarily.

Certain exercises and correcting the posture can relieve temporomandibular joint disorder. Mouthguards are an excellent way to stop bruxism, and practicing physical therapies as stretching the jaws to strengthen the jaw muscles can help.

Educating and counseling can help identify the causes of the temporomandibular joint disorder, and you can avoid them accordingly. Clenching the teeth or biting the fingernails can lead to temporomandibular joint disorder.

6 Things You Should Know About TMJ Treatment

There are certain things that you should know about TMD.

#1: Exercises Can Heal TMD

Jaw stretches and other exercises to relieve the jaw muscles can heal TMD. TMJ disorders are caused due to muscular stress, and you can exercise to relax the muscles.

#2: Right Food

Eating soft food like mashed potatoes can help to reduce jaw pain and discomfort. Crunchy and hard foods such as raw carrots may be avoided.

#3: Stress Management

Stress is known to aggravate TMD, and counseling can reduce stress. Practicing yoga or breathing exercise can keep stress in check.

#4: Limit Jaw Movement

Extreme jaw movement like yelling and yawning may be limited to reduce the discomfort of TMD.

#5: Heat or Cold Therapy

Applying ice or heat packs can relieve the pain and discomfort of TMD.

#6: Dentists Treat TMD

You can visit the dentist for TMD treatment near you. For many years, the Sanger Dentist has provided TMD treatments in Sanger, TX. You can also get teeth whitening, dental implants, and dentures here.

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