Treating TMJ Disorder
TMJ stands for the temporomandibular joint, which connects your upper and lower jaw to your skull. However, this joint has a disc which sometimes gets misplaced. This leads to several problems such as stiffness of the mouth, frequent headaches, clicking of the jaws when trying to open your mouth and sometimes even problems with your ears.
The TMJ disorder can be painful and affect your eating and speaking habits. It is a crucial joint that allows your mouth to function smoothly. Since it connects both the jaws, a disorder can disrupt the alignment of both.
TMJ disorder is a serious disease of the jaw but can be treated. Depending on the root cause and severity, the dentist will prescribe a treatment.
What are the symptoms of TMJ Disorder?
It is simple to say if you’re going through a TMJ disorder:
Grinding of teeth: You’ll see your teeth grinding or clenching, which wears them out or chips them. This also strains your worked-up muscles, which leads to headaches, neckaches, and shoulder pain.
Frequent headaches: A disorder in your TMJ can lead to pain in the temples or migraine attacks. These headaches get stressful and frequent as your joint is directly connected to your skull.
Problems with your ears: Another part of your skull that your jaws are connected to are your ears. You may feel them ringing or buzzing randomly or feel pain in the ear when the TMJ is displaced.
Your jaw may start clicking or popping: A clear symptom of the TMJ disorder is clicking of your jaws when you try to open your mouth wide to eat, scream or yawn. They may even ache or get locked.
Sleeping issues: A lot of health problems can prevent sound sleep, and this is one of them. As your jaws are dislocated, teeth are grinding and muscles are overstressed, you’ll face trouble sleeping.
Possible Treatments for TMJ Disorder
TMJ can be treated in many ways – home remedies, medication, and even surgery. Usually, surgery is the last resort when other home remedies and medicines do not work. All of these have one goal in common – to place the temporomandibular joint back in its place.
Following are the solutions prescribed for TMJ disorder:
- Various exercises of the jaws
- Improving your posture
- Ice packs and hot packs
- Reduction of stress
- Consuming only soft foods and liquids for a while
- Splints or other dental appliances
- Medicines like muscle relaxants or painkillers
If none of the above work, your dentist may have to perform a surgery to relocate your temporomandibular joint and the jaws of your mouth.
Book an Appointment with Wellington Point Dental
At Wellington Point Dental, we’ve had several patients coming with the TMJ disorder as it is a common disease. Our dentists have several years of experience in treating this problem, either with or without surgery.
If you’ve been facing a problem with your jaws, teeth, gums, or any other issue in your mouth, you may contact us at 07 3207 3911.
Our address- 7/391 Main Road, Wellington Point, Qld 4160, Australia