Does your jaw pop or click when you chew food? Do you have trouble moving it when you open your mouth? Is your jaw sore and does it hurt when eating hard or crunchy foods? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may have TMJ Disorder.
What is TMJ Disorder?
TMJ is an acronym for temporomandibular joint. There are two of these joints on either side of your head and they are responsible for opening and closing the jaw. TMJ disorder is when there are problems with this joint system.
Why Do I Have TMJ Disorder?
There actually isn’t a lot known about TMJ disorder. However, there are several possible causes of this condition:
- Grinding your teeth in your sleep or because of stress.
- Tooth and jaw alignment problems
- Arthritis
- Dislocation due to injury
What Can I Do About TMJ Disorder?
See your dentist if you think you might have TMJ disorder. They will recommend the best treatment depending on your circumstance. Some of the treatment options may include:
- Meditation to help relax your jaw
- Heating or ice packs
- Strengthening the jaw muscles through exercises
- Avoiding hard/crunchy foods, gum chewing, or extreme jaw motions
- A bite plate or night guard to stop tooth grinding
- Fixing the bite alignment