Do you often get jaw pains and feel difficulty in opening your mouth? Read to know about TMJ disorders and how they affect your health.
TMJ Disorders
Temporomandibular joint dysfunction, or TMD, is a problem that affects your jaw joints and the surrounding muscles. This can lead to issues like jaw pain, headaches, and difficulty opening and closing the mouth.
You have two TMJs, one on each side of your face near your ears. These joints help you chew and talk.
Around 5% to 12% of adults have some form of TMJ disorder, and it’s more common in women than in men. It often shows up in people between the ages of 20 and 40.
Types
There are three types of TMJ disorders:
- Problems with your jaw joints.
- Issues with the muscles you use for chewing.
- TMJ disorders cause headaches.
Symptoms
Symptoms of TMJ disorders can vary, and they might include:
- Pain in your jaw.
- Pain in your face.
- Pain in your shoulders or neck.
- Your jaw feels stiff.
- Difficulty when you try to open or close your mouth.
- Clicking sounds when you move your jaw.
- Headaches or even migraines.
- Earaches.
- Toothaches.
- Ringing in your ears (tinnitus).
- Changes in how your teeth fit together.
Causes
The main reasons behind TMJ disorders are not just one thing but a combination of factors. These factors can include:
- A jaw injury, like breaking or dislocating your jaw.
- Grinding or clenching your teeth (called bruxism).
- Arthritis in your jaw joint.
- When your teeth don’t fit together correctly (malocclusion).
- Feeling stressed.
Some habits and actions can make TMJ disorders worse, even though you can’t always control all the factors that cause it. These habits include:
- Using your teeth for things they shouldn’t be used for, like tearing off clothing tags.
- Having a bad posture can put extra pressure on the muscles in your neck, shoulders, and face.
- Chewing on objects like pens or pencils when you’re nervous.
- Chewing on ice or gum excessively.
- Taking huge bites of food which can strain your jaw muscles.
- Clenching or grinding your teeth during the day.
- Sleeping on your stomach.
Complications
TMJ disorders can lead to various problems, like
- Long-lasting pain
- Trouble with chewing
- Damage from teeth-grinding
These issues can be connected, and sometimes, it takes work to figure out the exact cause. Finding the proper treatment might also take some time.
Diagnosis
Healthcare providers can determine if you have TMJ disorders during a dental checkup or physical exam. Here’s what they do:
- They watch how well you can move your mouth when you open and close it.
- They press on your face and jaw to see if it hurts in certain areas.
- They feel your jaw joints as you move your mouth.
They might also use special pictures to get a better look at your jaw joints and the things around them. These pictures can include:
- Dental X-rays
- CT scans (like detailed X-rays)
- MRI scans (which use strong magnets)
- TMJ arthroscopy (a tool to look inside the joint) – sometimes, this is used for both diagnosis and treatment.
Treatment
The way healthcare providers treat TMJ disorders depends on what’s causing it and how bad the pain is. They usually start with non-surgical treatments, and if those don’t work, they might suggest jaw surgery.
Medication
They might give you different types of medicines, like:
- Pain relievers (like acetaminophen)
- Anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen or naproxen)
- Muscle relaxers (especially if you grind your teeth)
- Antidepressants (which can change how your body feels pain)
But some of these medicines, like antidepressants, can actually make teeth grinding worse, so talk to your dentist about the pros and cons.
Non-surgical TMJ Treatments
These are treatments that don’t involve surgery, and they include:
Mouth guards: Special dental devices that can put your jaw in a better position or protect your teeth from grinding. It’s best to get one custom-made by a dentist.
Physical therapy: Special exercises to stretch and strengthen the muscles around your jaw.
Trigger point injections: This means using needles to treat painful muscle knots in your jaw.
Ultrasound therapy: Using sound waves to heat your tissues, increase blood flow, and relax your muscles.
TENS: A method that uses small electric currents to relax your jaw muscles.
Surgical TMJ Treatments
If the non-surgical options don’t work, you might need surgery. There are a few types of TMJ surgery:
- Arthrocentesis: Doctors use this to find out why your jaw is sore. They can also use it to remove fluid from your joints and reduce your symptoms.
- TMJ arthroscopy: Surgeons make a small cut in front of your ear and use a tube with a light and camera to look inside. They can use small tools to fix problems like reshaping bone or removing scar tissue.
- Open-joint surgery: If the other surgeries don’t work, they might need to make a more significant cut to access your jaw joint directly.
Prevention
You can’t always stop TMJ dysfunction because some things that cause it can’t be avoided. However, there are ways to lower your chances of getting it:
- If you grind your teeth, wear a mouth guard when you sleep.
- If you play sports where you might get hit, wear a mouth guard.
- Keep your body in a good posture.
- Try relaxing methods like meditation or mindfulness to reduce stress.
Conclusion
The blog guides on TMJ disorders and how you can treat them. Always consult your dentist if you see any signs of TMJ disorders and discuss treatment options.
Contact Dentalsway for more details. We are always here to help you.
