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Category: TMJ

What is TMJ and What is it Caused By
15Nov

Issues affecting the jaw can have far-ranging symptoms and effects on your oral health. One, in particular, TMJ, can continue to worsen and require treatment in order to alleviate discomfort and stop additional problems from occurring. Below we provide the important things you need to know about TMJ, including common symptoms and what to do if you experience them.

What is TMJ?

TMJ stands for Temporomandibular joint disorder. This disorder affects the joint, or hinge, connecting the jawbone to your skull on each side. It also involves jaw muscles and facial nerves.

More specifically, within the joint, cartilage is separated by a tiny disk that serves as a sort of shock absorber. TMJ may occur if this disk becomes misaligned or erodes over time. If left untreated, it can continue to worsen, eroding the joint and causing additional problems.

What Can Cause TMJ?

While it is not always simple to diagnose TMJ or its cause, in most instances, patients experience some level of teeth misalignment. Your dentist will notice this and will likely ask you questions to consider or rule out a TMJ diagnosis.

Another potential cause is bruxism, the clenching and grinding of teeth, usually at night as you sleep. If this grinding occurs long-term, the Temporomandibular joint can become damaged.

Other factors that can cause TMJ include genetics, a jaw injury, or various types of arthritis.

Symptoms of TMJ

Patients can experience any or all of the following symptoms of TMJ. Every case is different, so be sure to mention any of these to your dental team during your next visit.

Popping, Clicking, or Grating in the Jaw Area

Perhaps one of the most common symptoms is a popping, clicking, or grating in the jaw. This sound or sensation can occur whenever you yawn, speak, or even eat. While not a clear sign that you have TMJ, it is one to look out for and notify your dentist if you experience it often.

Chewing Difficulty

With jaw misalignment, patients with TMJ often have difficulties with chewing. The more severe the misalignment, the more the muscles of the mouth will attempt to compensate, and you can experience difficulty chewing certain foods. You may notice your teeth failing to close all the way as you bite down also, affecting your chewing ability.

Jaw Pain or Tenderness

When teeth are misaligned, the muscles attempt to compensate, and this can lead to pain or tenderness in the jaw area. Pain can occur when eating, speaking, or yawning. You may also feel a referred pain in your ear.

Overworked Facial Muscles

Since the muscles of the mouth are working overtime, your face may feel tired and may sag at times. You’ll begin to recognize this the more it happens and will want to ask your dentist about it.

Jaw Locking

Your jaw may suddenly lock up as you open wide and then attempt to close your mouth. This locking or limitation of movement may only occur for a second or two, then will usually pop back into action with a clicking sound.

Swelling

Occasionally, a patient will experience mild or severe swelling on one side of the face. This swelling can mean that there is inflammation within the joint.

Pain in Other Areas

You may experience pain in other areas and not attribute it to your jaw. These pains occur in the neck, shoulder, and even in teeth. You may also begin to get more headaches that you are unable to explain.

How is TMJ Diagnosed?

TMJ is not always easy to diagnose. Symptoms are common to other causes and may not directly point to a misalignment. Your dentist may ask you about the symptoms listed above and also whether you experience dizziness, have ringing in your ears, or believe your hearing is affected.

You will also receive an oral exam, including the feeling of the jaw as you open and close. Your dentist will look for what range of motion you have and lightly press on specific areas to determine where you experience discomfort and pain.

Following the exam, your dentist may decide you need dental X-rays, a CT scan to get a closer look at the bones comprising the joint, or an MRI to detect issues within the soft tissues or the shock-absorbing disk.

Less common but still valuable is TMJ arthroscopy, where a thin tube will be inserted into the joint space along with a tiny camera to help get a closer look before making a definitive diagnosis.

If you experience persistent tenderness or pain in the jaw or face areas or find that locking of the jaw is occurring, make an appointment and discuss these as soon as possible.

What Treatments are Available for TMJ?

You may discover that the discomfort experienced as a result of TMJ is only occasional or temporary and may eventually go away on its own. There are things you can do at home to help, including resting the joint, taking pain relievers, avoiding chewy foods and gum, and noticing if you are grinding your teeth at night.

If the discomfort does not go away, you may be prescribed medications such as anti-inflammatories, pain relievers, or muscle relaxers. Mouth guards or oral splints may be given to you to wear as well. In extreme cases, patients may need to undergo physical therapy or surgery.

Learn More About TMJ at Lifetime Dental Health

When it comes to your oral health, TMJ can wreak havoc, causing pain and discomfort and longer-term issues. If you currently experience symptoms associated with TMJ or want to learn more, call our office today at 614-321-1895 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Richard Barry and his team at Lifetime Dental Health.

15Dec

Pain is a protective mechanism that signals a health issue to your body, whether that health issue be minor and resolvable, or more worrisome. Jaw pain can happen to anyone as a result of jaw bone pain, muscle injury, nerve damage, clenched teeth, trauma, or even other bodily systemic factors.

Woman Holding Face in Pain

First, it is important to understand the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Yes, that is a mouthful! 

The TMJ is a joint that combines the maxilla (upper jaw bone, right above your top row of teeth and below your nose) and the mandible (lower jaw bone, more commonly referred to as the jaw). If you have jaw pain, you might have a TMJ disorder. 

Sometimes, jaw pain can be referred to as temporomandibular joint and muscle disorder (TMD) which includes jaw pain related to jaw muscle injury or pain.

Common risk factors of a TMJ disorder include:

  1. Trauma or injury to the jaw
  2. Genetics or family history of TMJ
  3. Arthritis or Connective tissue disease 
  4. Tooth infection
  5. Bruxism (gnashing one’s teeth at night)

It’s important if you’re experiencing jaw pain to monitor when and how often they have symptoms of jaw pain. By tracking your own symptoms, you can provide important details to our dental team or healthcare provider. This can lead to accurate and pain-relieving treatment for TMJ, TMD, or other jaw pain.

Symptoms of Jaw Pain

Jaw pain might present as mild, moderate, or severe. Everyone has different thresholds for pain, however, it’s important to always remember that pain is a signal to your body that something is wrong. Seeking out medical advice for jaw pain can help you locate the origin of such pain and hopefully resolve symptoms.

Below are some symptoms that a person with TMJ, TMD, or jaw pain might experience. These symptoms are listed to help you identify possible manifestations of this issue at home. If you believe you have any of these symptoms, please contact our team and set up an appointment.

  • Pain or tenderness of the jaw
  • “Locking” or popping of the jaw 
  • Clicking or grinding sounds when moving one’s jaw
  • Jaw pain when chewing
  • Jaw pain upon waking up, after possible teeth-gnashing in one’s sleep
  • Aches around face, ears, neck, or jaw
  • Toothache or tooth pain
  • Tooth burning or sensitivity

Causes of Jaw Pain

There are common and rare causes of jaw pain that can be assessed and treated by your dental team. 

  • Trauma, or injury, is one of the most common reasons for jaw pain. Someone who has experienced trauma to the face, possibly during an athletic activity, could have a face or jaw fracture and should get a facial x-ray. Another injury, a strain, might occur if a person is holding their jaw or neck in an abnormal position for too long. This should be a self-resolving injury, but that person should still seek out an x-ray to distinguish fracture versus strain. Finally, a person might dislocate their jaw, by opening their mouth too wide.
  • Arthritis or connective tissue disease, which includes abnormalities of jaw cartilage tissue or bone, can also be a possible cause of jaw pain. For example, if a disc in the jaw that typically protects and cushions movement is broken down due to arthritis or displaced, then you can experience jaw pain.  
  • Tooth infections can also lead to jaw pain because the pain in one’s teeth can radiate to the jaw. Tooth nerves are very sensitive and can lead to burning or sharp pain! Dry sockets from surgery or cracked teeth can also lead to pain. All of these conditions can be assessed at your local dentist. 
  • Teeth grinding, or bruxism, is a common habit that does not always lead to jaw pain. However, if someone feels like their jaw often involuntarily locks, or they have jaw pain in the morning when waking up, they might be grinding their teeth in their sleep. This can lead to jaw pain. 

In less common cases, some people might have jaw pain that is secondary to other infections or bodily changes and not associated with TMJ disorder, such as:

  1. Sinus infections
  2. Cluster headaches 
  3. Nerve pain, referred to as trigeminal neuralgia
  4. Coronary artery disease 
  5. Pregnancy 

These other bodily changes often present with specific signs. For example, someone with coronary artery disease will feel chest pain that radiates to the jaw. In this instance, it is recommended that this person seeks out emergent medical treatment. If a woman is pregnant, her hormones might cause bone weakness, thus leading to jaw pain. If a person often experiences cluster headaches or suspects nerve trauma after ruling out other causes of jaw pain, that person can consult with a neurologist. 

What If I Have Jaw Pain?

The first step to take if you have jaw pain is to pay close attention to your symptoms and report them to a trusted healthcare provider. At Lifetime Dental Health in Columbus, OH, our dental team will perform x-rays and jaw examinations for patients. These thorough examinations can help identify the origin of jaw pain and possible TMJ or TMD. 

From there, if there is no connection between the jaw pain and the mouth/teeth, patients might be referred onward to neurologists or other specialized care to solve the mystery.

There are many recommend treatments for jaw pain, including at-home treatments:

  1. Reduce jaw movement. Try to avoid stress to reduce jaw-clenching.
  2. Eat mostly soft foods. Avoid chewy or tough foods, like gum, gummies, beef jerky, apples, caramel, and tough meat. Avoid foods that are extremely hot or cold, which might trigger sensitivities or pain.
  3. Apply ice packs or a warm moist towel to the jaw, intermittently. If applying an ice pack, place it in a plastic bag and wrap it in a towel to avoid ice burns. Leave it on for 10 minutes, or only as long as it is comfortable, and then remove for 10 minutes, and repeat as needed. For applying a warm moist towel, ensure the water is not too hot that it will burn your skin. The warm water might relax jaw spasms.    
  4. Gently massage your painful jaw. Using two fingers to press your jaw in a circular motion. Practice gently stretching your jaw, but do not stretch your jaw if it hurts.
  5. Take over-the-counter acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain relief. 

Our dental team might also recommend or prescribe a mouth guard, muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory or steroid medications, or antibiotics as needed. In some cases, a person with jaw pain might benefit from tooth extraction, root canal therapy, Botox injections, or jaw surgery. These procedures tend to be rare and only done when a person is properly diagnosed first.  

Prolonged, or constant, jaw pain is unlikely to resolve on its own. If pain persists or becomes severe, it is important to contact your dental team and have them assess your jaw and teeth. Immediately seek medical attention if you have shortness of breath or are unable to swallow or if chest pain accompanies your jaw pain. 

If you have jaw pain that you would like to have assessed, contact us here at Lifetime Dental Health.

1Jun

TMJ, an acronym for temporomandibular joints, are some of your most commonly used joints. These joints, located in front of your ears, connect your skull to your jaw and are used when you swallow, talk, eat. Temporomandibular joints are located on both sides of your jaw and can be affected by injuries or disorders such as arthritis, an injury, teeth grinding among others, and then become TMJ disorders or dysfunctions.

Because of the frequency in which these joints are used, any injury or disorder to the joints can be extremely painful and debilitating, with issues such as:

  • Pain while eating and chewing
  • Jaw popping and clicking
  • Pain is not only your jaw but your ear, head, and neck
  • Jaw locking
  • Muscle spasms

Much of the issues with TMJ can be solved by self-care and home remedies. While you should check with your doctor before starting any TMJ treatment plan, here are some resistance, stretching, and strengthening exercises you may be able to do to release TMJ pain:

Resistance

  1. Look in the mirror. Open your mouth slowly. While you are opening your mouth, center your two front teeth with your bottom two. Repeat between 5 and 10 times.
  2. Put a wooden pop stick between your top and bottom front teeth. Move your jaw slowly from side to side while holding the popsicle stick between your teeth.
  3. Repeat exercise number two but instead of side to side, move your bottom jaw forward. Hold for 20 seconds. Repeat with your top jaw. During the movement, the item will rest between your back and front teeth.

For exercises two and three, if completed successfully with no pain, you can then use items with more thickness. As each “level” is completed successfully, you can continue to build upon thickness. For instance, start with a popsicle stick and move to a pen then a marker, etc.

Stretching

  1. Open your mouth as wide as you can without it beginning to cause any pain. Then close your mouth. Repeat the exercise but only open your mouth half as wide. Continue the process to stretch your jaw muscles.
  2. Place your tongue to the roof of your mouth, behind your front teeth. Apply slight pressure to your palette. With your tongue held there, slowly open and close your mouth. Repeat.
  3. Put your index and middle fingers at the top/hinge of your jaw. Begin massaging downward. Massage down and then back up again.

Strengthening

  1. Place your index finger and thumb on your chin’s center. Open your mouth slowly and put pressure on your chin with your two fingers. Hold your mouth open for approximately 3-5 seconds then close slowly while continuing to put pressure with your index finger and thumb. Repeat 3-5 times.
  2. Open your mouth as wide as you can without it beginning to cause any pain. Push on the right side of your jaw with your right hand. After holding it for 10 seconds, return to the middle. Then do that with your left side and hold for another 10 seconds before returning to the middle.

Remember, these are supposed to be gentle exercises. If they are causing you pain, cease the exercise, limit the frequency, or lessen the pressure. To get started, make sure you complete them during a time you are most relaxed, sit upright, and start by doing these in front of the mirror until you are comfortable.

Ideally, these exercises help with:

  • Relaxing not only your jaw but your mind and body
  • Alleviating joint tension
  • Relieving muscle tension
  • Strengthening muscles and joints
  • Stretching
  • Broadening mouth open range
  • Helping your jaw to heal

Additional TMJ Pain Relief Tips

In addition to the exercises, there are additional things you can do that may add some additional relief. A combination of lifestyle changes and gentle exercises should help alleviate your TMJ pain, but you may need to check with your doctor for additional measures. In the meantime, try:

  1. Maintaining good posture
  2. Talk to your doctor about medication
  3. Applying an ice pack for 20 minutes
  4. Alternating between heat and ice
  5. Avoiding foods that are hard to chew
  6. Speak to your doctor about mouthguards
  7. Do not bite your fingernails or bite on your teeth
  8. Get a good night sleep (this is great for all overall health)

As always, check with your doctor before starting any treatment plans. However, people often have success with at-home remedies and exercises for their TMJ pain. Remember to be gentle with yourself (and your body) and that these exercises are not designed for immediate relief. Your jaw and muscles need time to strengthen so make sure you keep up on your exercise for long-term relief.

Contact Lifetime Dental Health for TMJ Treatment

We’re here to help! If you suspect your TMJ pain is from grinding your teeth at night, Dr. Love, Dr. DiDonato, or Dr. Barry may advise you to wear a custom night guard. These not only protect your teeth from unnecessary wear, but they can help relax muscles to relieve pain. Please call our office at 614-321-1887 or schedule an appointment online.

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