TMJ/TMD
Jacksonville, FL
 If you experience inexplicable jaw popping, clicking, migraines, and neck pain, you might have a temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). Visit us here at Atlantic Dentistry for our dental specialists to examine your jaw and treat your symptoms. Your temporomandibular joint connects your jaw to your skull, which is what enables your jaw to move up and down, and sideways. It also offers critical support to various functions of your mouth like speaking and yawning.
If this joint is damaged, or if your jaw and facial muscles are injured, it can lead to temporomandibular disorders. Our dental professionals recommend that you seek help as soon as the early symptoms begin to manifest.
Causes of TMD
Researchers are not certain as to precisely what causes temporomandibular disorders. However, they speculate that the following conditions have a role.
Jaw Trauma
Maybe you stopped a punch with your jaw, or you were playing rugby and you got tackled, but a major force landing on your jaw can be one of the triggers of TMD.
Teeth Grinding
This condition is also known as bruxism. It usually occurs during the night, where your teeth grind against each other, leading to earache, sensitivity, tooth loss, and other issues. Teeth grinding may also be a factor in temporomandibular disorders.
Chewing Gum Excessively
Your chances of developing temporomandibular disorders are significantly higher if you are a chronic gum chewer. The exercise wears your jaws and makes it susceptible to injuries.
Orthodontic Braces
They are bonded onto teeth for alignment purposes, but if all the rules are not followed, braces might cause several problems including pain and temporomandibular disorders. However, those that opt for aligners tend to experience fewer issues with TMJ or TMD.
Symptoms of TMD
Our dental specialists consider pain in the jaw joint to be a major sign of temporomandibular disorders. The following are some of the other symptoms:
Jaw Clicking
You could be speaking to someone, and suddenly there are clicking sounds ringing from your jaw. The more pronounced the clicking, the more TMD is imminent.
Cracking Sounds in the Ear
If the temporomandibular joint is affected, most facial organs feel the impact. You may experience earache and cracking sounds in your ears.
Difficulty Chewing
The temporomandibular joint plays a role in many oral functions. For instance, it helps you chew food, and so if you have difficulty chewing, it could be a sign of TMD.
Jaw Dislocation
This usually happens when you yawn widely. Putting you in awkward and painful situations, jaw dislocation is a sign of TMD.
Risk Factors of TMD
Some people have a higher likelihood of developing this condition. And so, they need to be more proactive in seeking treatment in the face of TMD symptoms.
People with Poor Posture
If you have a poor posture, you subject your neck and facial organs to excessive strain, which may increase your vulnerability to TMD.
Chronic Stress
Everyone walking the planet has their fair share of stressful situations. But if you are stressed all through, it can lead to muscle tension, thus increasing your likelihood of getting TMD.
Gender
This condition disproportionately affects women between ages 18 and 44. Does this mean that no one else can get affected? By no means! It just happens to hit this demographic regularly.
Temporomandibular disorder can make it difficult to speak, chew, or yawn. Come to our offices at Atlantic Dentistry so that our dental professionals may help you. You can call us today, at 904 717-0335. |
