How TMJ Might Affect You

Do you have a sore jaw? Are you suffering from a TMJ disorder? Approximately 12% of Americans are living with some kind of TMJ disorder. If you’re also one of them, you better have known managing TMJ pain can be difficult. It can create difficulty in speaking and chewing of your favorite food. But there are things that you can do to ease your TMJ pain. But first, you should have knowledge about TMJ disorder and how it might develop.

Anytime when you feel facial pain, you might have TMJ. The temporomandibular joint is a hinge-like joint that creates a connection between your upper and lower jaw bones. It has several parts, including series of muscles, an articular disc that acts as a cushion between the bones, and ligament. The articular disc does not have any blood vessels, so it is impervious to pain.

At Orange Family Dentistry, our TMJ specialist in San Diego offers reliable treatment for your TMJ disorder at an affordable price.

How Does TMJ Disorder Develop?

The actual reason a TMJ disorder develops is a mystery. However, a common culprit behind this disorder is a bad bite. When your upper and lower teeth do not fit together properly and your TMJ have to work harder than they should, then it may lead to severe pain. Arthritis, jaw injuries, bruxism, stress and anxiety, disc erosion in the jaw, and excessive gum chewing can also flare up TMJ disorder.

Symptoms of TMJ

• Neck, shoulders, and jaw joint pain
• Pain in your face and a tiresome feeling with swelling on the side of your face
• Aching pain in or around your ear
• Cracked, worn or broken teeth
• Toothaches and severe pain while chewing or an uncomfortable bite
• Headaches, migraines, and dizziness
• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• Locking of the jaw joint (difficulty in opening or closing of your mouth)
• Clicking or grating sensation, popping sounds from the jaw

Treatment Options for TMJ

TMJ disorders have many treatment options. Our TMJ dentist in San Diego also offers a myriad of options for your joint pain. They will also give you free consultant advice that you can do at home to reduce your pain. Here are some tips that are recommended by our dentist that you can do at home.

At Home Treatment

• Eat soft food and avoid food that requires a large bite, e.g. thick sandwiches.
• Take ibuprofen or naproxen (anti-inflammatory) medication.
• Don’t rest your chin on your hand.
• Avoid extreme unnecessary jaw movement. Avoid chewing gum.
• Place moist heat and cold pack on your jaw for ten minutes.
• Stay relaxed and practice stress management techniques.

Medical Treatment

• Take a pain reliever, muscle relaxer, and anti-inflammatory drugs after the recommendation of your TMJ dentist in San Diego.
• Use an oral splint or mouth guards that help to keep your jaw in place.
• For TMJ treatment in San Diego, it’s also ideal to consult with a physical therapist who can give you stretches and massage techniques.
• If other medical treatment can’t relieve your pain, then TMJ specialists in San Diego recommend surgery.

If you are feeling pain in your face, ear, neck, and in your jaw joint, you may be suffering from a TMJ disorder. Consult with our San Diego Dentist as soon as possible. Feel free to make an appointment with us to get more information about TMJ and to know what you can do to relieve your TMJ symptoms.