Temporomandibular Disorder
Millions of Americans suffer from chronic facial and neck pain as well as severe, recurring headaches. In some cases, this pain is due to Temporomandibular Disorder, also known as TMD.
Your temporomandibular joints, or TMJs, connect your lower jawbone to your skull. These joints get a lot of use throughout the day as you speak, chew, swallow and yawn. Pain in and around these joints can be unpleasant and may even restrict movement.
Symptoms of TMD Include:
- Pain in the jaw area
- Pain, ringing, or stuffiness
- Frequent headaches or neck aches
- Clicking or popping sound when the jaw moves
- Muscle spasms in the jaw area
- A change in the alignment of top and bottom teeth
- Locked jaw or limited opening of the mouth
Should you notice any of these symptoms, let us know. We can help advise you as to whether they indicate the presence of TMD, and what sort of treatment is appropriate for you.
Not All Jaw Pain is Associated With TMD
If you feel that you might have TMD, we recommend that you contact our office for a consultation. If you don't have any of these symptoms, let's keep it that way. There are some simple things you can do at home or work to prevent TMD from occurring in your jaw joints:
- Relax your face - keep your lips together and teeth apart
- Avoid grinding your teeth
- Avoid all gum chewing
- Don't cradle the phone receiver between your head and shoulder - either use a headset or hold the receiver to your ear
- Chew food evenly on both sides of your mouth
- Do not sit with your chin rested of your hand
- Practice good posture - keep your head up, back straight, and shoulders squared