Do you ever feel a popping or clicking sensation in your jaw? Do you ever encounter unexplained jaw pain or frequent headaches? These may be symptoms of a serious medical issue. TMJ disorder, or TMD, affects over 10 million Americans. In today’s blog, your Ankeny dentist, Dr. Amanda Foust, explains the causes of TMJ disorder and discusses how to treat TMD.
Causes of TMJ Disorder
TMJ disorder affects the temporomandibular joint. This joint connects the jaw to the skull and controls all movement of your jaw, such as chewing or talking. TMD occurs when stress is placed on the temporomandibular joints. A variety of factors can lead to increased strain on the temporomandibular joints. Common causes of TMD include:
- Teeth grinding
- Misaligned bite
- Clenching teeth
TMD Symptoms
Patients suffering from TMJ disorder report a litany of painful symptoms, such as:
- Clicking or popping in the jaw
- Jaw pain
- Facial discomfort
- Frequent headaches
- Migraines
- Earaches
- Tinnitus
- Shoulder pain
Treating TMJ Disorder
Thankfully, treatment is available for TMD. To ease TMD-related symptoms, avoid chewing gum or hard foods. The repetitive actions required for chewing gum exacerbate the jaw joints, elevating painful symptoms. Dr. Foust may recommend a few simple muscle exercises to strengthen your jaw joints and decrease TMJ discomfort. In addition, when your jaw or face feels sore, apply a warm cloth to relax your jaw muscles. In most cases, bruxism, or teeth grinding, causes TMD. Teeth grinding often occur when a patient experiences increased levels of stress. Try to reduce the stress in your daily life. If this doesn’t adequately address your teeth grinding, Dr. Foust may prescribe a special oral appliance. Similar to a mouth guard, this dental device prevents the upper and lower teeth from touching, eliminating teeth grinding and easing TMD-related symptoms.
Schedule an Appointment with Your Ankeny Family Dentist
Does your jaw pop or click? Then schedule a visit with your Ankeny family dentist for a diagnosis and to discuss treatment options. Contact Dental Impressions today by calling (515) 965-0230 to make an appointment with your cosmetic dentist. Located in the 50021 area, we proudly serve patients from Ankeny, Polk City, Bondurant, Elkhart, Alleman, and all surrounding communities.
