Why Your Jaw Is Aching: Uncovering the Truth About TMJ Disorders

Have you ever woken up with a headache, sore jaw, or felt pain when chewing? You are not alone. Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) disorders affect millions of people, causing significant discomfort and impacting their quality of life. Our experienced dentists at Dental Care of Madison will evaluate your unique needs and create a custom treatment plan to help get you on track to a healthy, pain-free smile.

What Are TMJ Disorders?

Your temporomandibular joints, or TMJs, are like sliding hinges that connect the jawbone to the skull. There are two TMJs on each side of the jaw in front of the ears. Temporomandibular joint disorders, or TMD, develop when problems with the TMJ joints or the muscles responsible for chewing occur.

The causes of TMJ disorders are often unknown but can result from poor diet, a lack of sleep, genetics, tooth misalignment, or an uneven bite. As dentists, we find that one of the most common causes of TMJ pain and discomfort is grinding and clenching your teeth in your sleep, a condition known as bruxism. That causes considerable stress on the TMJs, leading to pain, discomfort, and a range of symptoms.

What Are the Symptoms of TMJ Disorders?

TMJ disorders can cause symptoms that may appear unrelated to your jaw joint, impacting eating, sleeping, and overall comfort. Here are some of the warning signs to look out for:

1. Morning headaches

2. Neck, ear, and face pain

3. Jaw pain and tenderness

4. Difficulty chewing, biting down, or yawning

5. Popping or clicking when opening or closing the mouth

6. Teeth that no longer fit together the same way

7. Chipped, fractured, or cracked teeth

What Are the Treatment Options for TMJ Disorders?

We typically start with conservative treatment options, including gentle jaw muscle massages or targeted exercises. We are happy to demonstrate how to do so without inadvertently causing further complications. We may also recommend switching to softer foods that are easier to chew and opting for an anti-inflammatory diet to reduce pressure on your jaw joints.

Stress can aggravate nighttime grinding and clenching, which, in turn, can trigger TMD symptoms. It may be helpful to try deep breathing, meditation, exercising, stretching, massage therapy, yoga, listening to relaxing music, or taking a relaxing bath before going to bed. Our experienced dentists are happy to offer tips to help you relax and reduce stress.

If you continue to experience symptoms of TMJ disorders, we may recommend an oral appliance known as a night splint or occlusal splint to wear during sleep. We create custom night splints from impressions of your teeth, protecting your jaw joints from the forces of grinding and clenching. Your TMJ splint will keep your jaw in a more favorable position and help your jaw and facial muscles relax, which can ease your pain. Oral appliance therapy has been shown to be highly effective for relieving TMD symptoms, improving your sleep, and enhancing your quality of life.

TMJ Therapy Near Me in Madison, MS

If you have symptoms of TMJ disorders, contact Dental Care of Madison today. Our experienced dentists will evaluate your unique needs and help you get on track to real, lasting relief. Call us at (601) 898-9390 to schedule an appointment or request one online today!