What Is TMJ Disorder?
It is a condition featuring significant pain in your jawbone, typically around the cheeks close to your ears. TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint, which is a connective tissue between your jawbone and skull. When the joint is dysfunctional, it causes TMD (Temporomandibular Disorder). However, many people use TMJ and TMD interchangeably to refer to the dysfunction of the joint.
How to Know You Have TMJ
Unfortunately, unless you seek TMJ treatment in Bayside, you may not be certain that you have TMJ. The condition affects people differently, which might explain why it may go undetected for a while. Some indicators of TMJ disorder are:
- Pain when you chew food or open your mouth.
- Clicking sounds when you mouth your jaw.
- Headaches
- Swelling on the affected side(s) of the face.
- Facial pain – especially around your cheeks
- Ear pain – if TMD is left untreated, you may begin experiencing hearing loss.
- Jaw lock – when your mouth gets stuck in the open-mouth position, making it difficult to close your mouth after yawning or laughing.
What Causes TMJ Syndrome?
Patients experience this condition for varying reasons. The common ones include the following:
- Dental trauma – a forceful blow on your mouth will not only fracture your teeth but can also result in TMJ disorder.
- Bruxism – is a condition featuring excessive teeth grinding, especially among children and teenagers. While children should grow out of bad oral habits, it is not always the case.
- Facial clenching – excessively clenching your face places unmerited pressure on your facial muscle, which may strain your jaw’s joints. Face clenching com only occurs due to stress, anxiety, and depression.
- Other health conditions – if you have arthritis, you may suffer from TMD. Types of arthritis that can cause TMD are Rheumatoid arthritis and Osteoarthritis.
Is TMJ Serious?
TMJ is a serious oral problem that needs treatment by a TMJ specialist near you. However, the severity level depends on the underlying cause of the problem. Some patients have it worse than others. The important thing is that you seek TMJ treatment at Dental Expressions by Dr. Gary Bram before you encounter worse symptoms that require emergency dentistry near you.
How Long Does TMJ Take to Heal?
The period of healing for TMJ differs based on various factors. For one, if you have not yet visited your dentist in Bayside for treatment, it may take a long time for your jaw to heal. The underlying cause of the TMJ also influences the recovery period. If your TMJ is caused by arthritis, for example, it may take months or years before you fully heal and recover. Besides that, your lifestyle choices will influence the pace of healing. However, it generally takes about two to three weeks for the symptoms to wear off.
How Can You Get Rid of TMJ Quickly?
The treatment options for TMJ differ from one patient to another, mostly influenced by the underlying cause of the problem. Some things that can improve your jaw health quickly are:
- Change your sleeping position – you would be shocked at how much difference it makes to adjust your sleeping position. While at it, change your pillows and mattress for more comfortable ones. The goal is to alleviate unnecessary pressure on your jaw during sleep.
- Protect your mouth – wearing a mouthguard goes a long way in protecting your teeth and jaw. If you are involved in high-contact sports, consider wearing a mouthguard. The idea is to minimize the force of impact on your mouth that may worsen your TMJ.
- Treat bruxism – excessive teeth grinding at night will only worsen your TMJ symptoms. Seek treatment for bruxism, getting night guards, if you must, to reduce grinding teeth at night.
- Relax – cutting down on stress and anxiety will improve your jaw health immensely because you reduce facial clenching.
- Physiotherapy – did you know that some dental exercises for the jawbone can treat jaw pain? You would need to talk to your dentist about the best jaw exercises to improve the mobility and functionality of your jawbone.
