The temporomandibular joints (TMJs) on either side of your head are what make eating, speaking, and other daily oral tasks possible. So if your TMJs become strained or injured, you’ll want to have it treated quickly. But how will you know that you’re suffering from a TMJ disorder? As November is TMJ Awareness Month, now is an excellent time to familiarize yourself with the potential warning signs as well as some of the treatment options that your dentist might recommend.
Common Symptoms of TMJ Disorder
Depending on what caused your TMJ disorder, you might notice the following symptoms:
- Chronic Jaw Pain: You might experience discomfort in one or both TMJs. The longer your TMJ disorder goes untreated, the more severe your jaw pain will become.
- Recurring Headaches: Tension in your TMJs and the muscles around them can lead to frequent headaches or migraines.
- Locking of the Jaw: If your TMJs aren’t functioning properly, they can sometimes become stuck, preventing you from opening or closing your jaw.
- Tinnitus: Due to their location, a problem with your TMJs can also affect your inner ear, causing a ringing sound.
- Bite Trouble: TMJ disorder is often connected to a misaligned bite, which can make chewing difficult or uncomfortable.
- Unusual Jaw Sounds: Do you ever hear a clicking, popping, or grinding sound when you move your jaw? In some cases, it could be a side effect of a TMJ disorder.
It’s important to remember that TMJ disorder has a variety of possible causes, so you might not experience every single one of the symptoms listed above. That said, you should call your dentist right away if you have any reason to think there might be a problem with your jaw joints.
How Can TMJ Disorder Be Treated?
Once your condition has been diagnosed, you can start exploring your TMJ treatment options. For milder conditions, it could be as simple as performing certain jaw exercises, sticking to softer foods that don’t require an excessive amount of chewing, and/or periodically applying an ice pack to the TMJs to reduce any inflammation.
More complex types of TMJ disorder may call for a customized oral appliance. This simple device holds your jaw in a position that takes some of the pressure off your TMJs so that they have a chance to rest and recover. In severe cases where oral appliance therapy fails to improve your symptoms, your dentist might suggest jaw surgery to directly address the underlying cause of the condition.
TMJ disorder can significantly decrease your quality of life, but if you’re aware of the warning signs, you’ll know when you need to seek professional care so that you can stop the problem from growing any worse.
About the Author
Dr. Pam West has over three decades of dental experience. She graduated from the University of Southern California Dental School in 1987, and since then she has completed thousands of continuing education hours. At iSleep Solutions in Las Vegas, she offers a number of personalized treatment options for TMJ disorder, including oral appliance therapy. To schedule a consultation with Dr. West, visit her website or call (702) 602-2000.