Waking up with headaches and jaw pain is no way to start the day. If you suffer from TMJ disorder, we are here to remedy your problems and soothe your pains.
What is TMJ dysfunction?
TMJ disorder is a term used to describe a group of symptoms, which affects the TMJ, also known as the temporomandibular joint. This joint is a very active and important joint, which connects the lower jaw to the skull; it is involved in lots of important actions, including opening and closing the jaw and chewing food. If you put your fingers just in front of your ear lobes on the side of your face and open your mouth wide, you can feel the TMJ working.
Symptoms of TMJ disorder include popping and clicking noises in the jaw, aches and pains in the joint, stiffness and a lack of movement in the jaw and headaches, ear ache and neck and shoulder pain.
How can a dentist help?
One of the most common causes of TMJ disorder is tooth grinding, also known as bruxism. Grinding the teeth increases pressure and strain on the facial muscles around the jaw and it can also contribute to wear and tear of the teeth. Many people who grind their teeth aren’t aware that they do it because it is a subconscious action and it occurs during the night when you are asleep, but if you regularly wake up with the symptoms listed above, this could be why.
If you grind your teeth, we can provide you with a custom-made bite guard to prevent the teeth from grinding together during the night. The bite guard looks and feels similar to a mouth guard and it is custom-made so that you can sleep without feeling uncomfortable.
In many cases, bruxism is linked to stress and anxiety and we can also provide patients with advice about managing stress.
Tags: bruxism, Joint Stiffness, mouth guard, TMJ disorder
