Do you suffer from TMD? Perhaps you have jaw pain and not sure what it could be. If so, we have news for you! Jaw pain could be a serious sign of a TMD, which is a disorder of the joints in your jaw. That is why, our team here at Craniofacial Pain Center Of Colorado in Arvada, Colorado, is happy to talk to you about TMD and how to find treatment.
Frankly, temporomandibular joints, or TMJs, are the joints on the side of your jaw that open and close your mouth. When the joints feel painful, simple tasks of talking, chewing, and even swallowing can be extremely difficult. Your TMJ also works with other muscles and ligaments in your jaw to keep the motion in your jaw healthy. When these become inflamed or damaged, intense pain in your joints or headaches can occur.
There are several possible causes of TMJ disorders. Some of these include:
-Injury to your jaw or joint pain
-Arthritis
-Severe stress and teeth grinding putting pressure on the joints in your jaw
-Dislocation of your jaw
-Bad tooth or jaw alignment
Whatever may have created your TMJ disorder, the important thing is to get properly diagnosed, so you can begin treatment. There are also other treatments you can do on your own to help heal your TMJ. These include:
– Avoid chewing gum.
– Use heat packs to treat the pain.
– Exercise to strengthen your jaw muscles.
– Avoid nail biting.
– Eat softer foods.
If you still have questions about TMJ and would like to learn more about your options, please call 303.421.2696 today to set up an appointment with Dr. James Bieneman. Our team always happy to assist your smile in any way we can.
