You bite a crisp apple and you hear a pop in your jaw, it’s subtle but painful. It aches when you’re talking, yawning, or sometimes when you wake up in the morning.
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) Disorder has been spoken about more in recent years and people have realized they’ve been living with this pain their whole lives! To find out if you’re one of them, keep reading.
What is TMJ Disorder?
The TMJ is the hinge that connects your lower jaw, or mandible, to your skull. The joint is on both sides of the jaw in front of the ears – which is why sometimes people get earaches!
TMJ Disorder (or TMJ Dysfunction) is a group of health conditions that relate to these joints and muscles that move the jaw. It can be difficult to diagnose since these joints can be impacted in many different ways.
Symptoms of TMJ Disorders
Jaw pain and tenderness when chewing or talking are common symptoms of TMJ Disorder. But there are some other telltale signs of TMJ disorder:
- Ear aches.
- Tinnitus.
- A stiff jaw muscle.
- Locking of the jaw.
- Facial swelling.
- Headaches.
- A popping or clicking sound near the TMJ.
- Vertigo.
- Your teeth become more misaligned (known as malocclusion).
- Toothache.
If you experience clicking of the jaw without pain or limitation of movement, then you likely won’t need treatment.
What Causes TMJ Disorder?
There are many possible culprits for TMJ Disorder:
- Grinding or clenching your teeth – also known as bruxism.
- Arthritis around the joint.
- A broken or dislocated jaw.
- Structural jaw issues from birth.
- Stress.
These avoidable habits could also cause TMJ Disorders:
- Chewing on ice
- Taking too big a bite when eating.
- Clenching your teeth throughout the day.
- Adding pressure to your jaw from bad posture in the neck and back.
- Using your teeth to open bottles and packets.
How Do I Know If I Have TMJ Disorder?
There isn’t a specific test for TMJ disorder, but you can get a diagnosis from a dentist or ENT (Ear, Nose, and, Throat) doctor using different methods.
These professionals may do one of the following to spot TMJ Disorder:
- X-rays: Your dentist can use X-rays to identify the placement of your teeth and jaw.
- CT Scan: Your doctor can see the tissue and bones from the scan.
- MRI: It uses a magnetic field to create detailed images of organs and tissues.
How Can I Treat it?
How you relieve TMJ disorder depends on what causes it. The following are possible treatments:
- Medications: You could try pain relievers, anti-inflammatories, and muscle relaxants.
- Therapy: For example, stretches, resistance exercises, acupuncture, ultrasound therapy, or cooling therapy.
- Corrective: Use a mouth guard to stop grinding your teeth, correcting your posture, stress management, etc.
- Surgical: If necessary, it may include teeth realignment, removal of fluid and debris from the joint (known as arthrocentesis), or surgery to replace the joint.
It can be hard to avoid TMJ Disorder but you can put some practices into place to reduce symptoms. It’s time to iron out ice chewing, teeth grinding, and bad posture!
Think you might have TMJ Disorder? Book an appointment with us and we’ll help treat your pain in a comfortable environment.
