TMJ
Have you been struggling with jaw pain? Or do you wake up with headaches? These signs may mean you have problems with the joint connecting your lower jaw and skull — the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Issues with this joint can cause a lot of discomfort. But there are ways to treat it.
At State Street Smiles, we offer treatment for TMJ in Hackensack, NJ. Since TMJ disorder or dysfunction can affect your day-to-day life and lead to other complications, seeking help is important.
How do you know if you have this condition? We’ll explore TMJ disorder in more detail, including what symptoms it can cause and how our dentists help treat it for effective relief!
What Are TMJ Symptoms?
The exact symptoms you experience may vary. You might have soreness and other signs on one side only. But if both joints are affected, you may have symptoms on both sides of your face.
TMJ disorder can cause issues with the muscles in these areas or with the way the joint moves. It should stay firmly in the socket when you open and close your mouth. But it might move forward instead, triggering pain and other problems.
Some common symptoms may include any of the following:
- Jaw soreness
- Headaches or migraines
- Pain in nearby areas, such as ear pain, neck pain, toothaches, or shoulder pain
- Problems with jaw alignment
- Jaw stiffness
- Soreness in your face
- Ringing in your ears, known as tinnitus
- Trouble opening and closing your mouth, especially when chewing
- Popping sounds in your jaw below your ears
Causes of TMJ Disorder
How do you end up with this condition? It’s hard to pinpoint a single cause. But there are risk factors that may contribute to it. Having a jaw injury might make you more likely to have TMJ problems. Conditions that affect the joints, like arthritis, can also cause this disorder.
Do you clench your teeth? If you have bruxism or teeth grinding, this is another potential cause of TMJ dysfunction. Grinding motions can strain the joint and muscles in this area, resulting in pain and other symptoms.
When you see our dentists for treatment, we’ll try to determine what may be causing TMJ problems. This helps us determine the best way to manage it.
When to Seek Care for TMJ?
How do you know if it’s time to get help for your symptoms? If they’re occurring frequently — and affecting your day-to-day life — you should see our dental team for help. We can provide treatment to help ease symptoms and prevent complications, such as the following:
- Severe damage to your teeth if you grind them
- Higher risk of developing arthritis or other problems with the tissue in these joints
- Lockjaw that prevents you from opening or closing your mouth
- Jaw dislocations
If you have ringing in your eyes for a prolonged time, you may also be at risk of developing hearing loss.
How Dentists Treat TMJ
At State Street Smiles, our dental team can come up with a treatment plan after evaluating your jaw and teeth. The kind of treatment we recommend will depend on what’s causing this disorder and how it’s affecting your joint.
Is bruxism triggering symptoms? In this case, we might recommend wearing a customized night guard to prevent you from clenching your teeth while you’re asleep. These oral appliances help ease tension in your jaw muscles and prevent tooth damage.
Are your teeth misaligned? In this case, we may recommend orthodontic treatments to help correct these problems.
Is stress making symptoms worse? Our team can recommend ways to manage stress with relaxation techniques.
To help manage pain and other TMJ symptoms, we might include other kinds of care in your treatment plan, such as over-the-counter medications.
Other Ways to Manage TMJ Symptoms
Certain things you do in your daily life may make this disorder worse. Avoid doing the following to help prevent this from happening:
- Grinding your teeth while you’re awake (we offer treatment for nighttime teeth grinding)
- Chewing or biting on non-food objects, like pens
- Chewing gum too much or chewing large or multiple pieces of gum at one time
- Using your teeth to tear open items or do similar tasks
- Eating food in big bites
Did you know that the way you sleep and sit or stand can affect TMJ symptoms? Poor posture can cause problems with your facial muscles, including jaw muscles. Being a stomach sleeper can also put excess pressure on these joints.
FAQs on TMJ
Below are some of the most frequently asked questions people have about TMJ disorder. If you have other questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us!
What are the most common TMJ symptoms?
Having pain in the jaw is among the symptoms that happen most often with this disorder. But you can have several other signs, depending on what’s causing this condition and other factors. For example, grinding your teeth on a regular basis can lead to toothaches due to damage.
Should I get treatment for TMJ?
Yes, you should get help for this disorder. Your symptoms may affect your quality of life, especially if they make it difficult for you to eat or speak comfortably. Frequent headaches and other pain can also interfere with your ability to do daily activities. Treatment can help you manage your symptoms for relief.
Can I prevent TMJ?
Not always — but there are a few things you can do to help reduce your risk of developing TMJ dysfunction, including:
- Working on your posture
- Sleeping on your side or back instead of your stomach
- Using a mouth guard to prevent teeth grinding
- Managing stress in your everyday life
- Wearing a mouth guard for sports to protect your teeth and jaw from injuries
What are TMJ risk factors?
Your chance of having this condition can be higher if you have certain risk factors, like arthritis or other joint conditions. Problems with jaw alignment, bruxism, and chronic stress are other risk factors for TMJ disorder.
Why should I see a dentist for TMJ?
Our dentists have years of experience treating this condition. We also have diagnostic tools for evaluating your jaw and teeth in order to provide you with the right treatment approach. Whether you grind your teeth or have a misaligned jaw, we’re ready to create a treatment plan that works best for you!
Visit State Street Smiles for TMJ Treatment!
Are you looking for help managing this disorder? Our treatment for TMJ in Hackensack, NJ, can help you get these symptoms under control — and prevent serious complications. Make an appointment with our office today!
