Causes And Treatments For Tmj Disorder

A fairly common cause of mouth pain, headaches and earaches is temporomandibular joint disorder. Unfortunately, the joints are susceptible to dislocation and swelling. TMJ disorder can cause mild to serious discomfort for the sufferer. Below, find more information about TMJ issues.

What is TMD?:
TMJ disorder, often referred to as simply TMD, is the result of two joints within the jaw that do not line up and rotate properly within the mouth. With regular mouth movements, the unaligned joints can cause excessive wearing on the bones themselves and the surrounding tissues.

What Causes TMD?:
TMD can be the result of many factors. A jaw can be damaged by an impact, for example, causing abnormal biting. Misalignment can also occur naturally. A person might not have enough of an overbite to chew properly. Or naturally occurring degenerative diseases, similar to arthritis, could slowly deteriorate a person's ability to bite down without causing damage.

A common cause is teeth-grinding. People often clench their teeth without thinking about it, whether it's stress-related or just a nervous habit. Some people even grind their teeth while they sleep.

More controllable factors include nail-biting, chewing too much gum or taking bites that are too large to chew comfortably.

What are the Symptoms?:
TMD sufferers experience many symptoms, and the severity varies widely. Only a dentist can determine whether TMD is the cause.

Pain is a primary symptom of TMD. A healthy joint won't feel pain, as the surfaces do not have pain receptors. However, when tissue becomes irritated and inflamed, the surrounding nerves trigger pain.

TMD sufferers also experience soreness that becomes more apparent in the morning and in the evening. A person might also notice clicking and popping during chewing. Headaches, especially upon waking, become more frequent with TMD.

More serious symptoms include perceived earaches and facial swelling. Opening the mouth can become difficult during eating and talking.

What are Some Options for TMD Sufferers?:
TMD can be treated in many ways, ranging from everyday lifestyle changes to surgery.

Some TMD patients wear night guards to prevent unconscious teeth-grinding. Other patients target the symptoms with pain killers. For patients with more severe symptoms, a dentist could suggest reconstructive surgery to adjust the bite or realign the jaw. Some surgeries target the actual swelling and involve cleansing the infected areas with anti-inflammatory solutions.

A professional dentist can discuss treatment options more thoroughly, so a person who suspects TMD should make an appointment.