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Jaw Pain (TMD)
TMD is one of the largest causes of headaches and facial pain. Most never even think to see a dentist for help on this matter, but times are changing.
When I say “TMJ” what is the first thing you imagine?
- A Tomato, Mayo & Jelly sandwich
- Tall Men Jaywalking
- Too Much Junk
- Jaw Pain
If you chose (d) jaw pain, you’re halfway there, but there is a common misconception about TMJ I’d like you to discover. TMJ stands for Temporomandibular Joint and it’s actually an integral part of the jaw and it’s functions. It provides an important service to the body by aiding in chewing food, talking, playing an assortment of musical instruments, singing, smiling, laughing, and of course glass blowing. The TMJ gets little credit for all it allows us to do. But occasionally something can go wrong with the joint, causing discomfort or chronic pain, and this is called TMJ Disorder (TMD). Sometimes confused with other ailments, TMD has a variety of symptoms, such as sensitive teeth, a clicking or locking jaw, grinding of the teeth, jaw stiffness and restricted movement, earaches, change in jaw alignment or bite, and insomnia. In addition, what few people are aware of is that many headaches can be traced directly to TMD. The good news is that dental care is one of the quickest, safest and most successful ways to treat it!
Sounder (or more ironic) advice has never been given. I get asked so many questions about various aspects of dental care, that I sometimes feel like an advice columnist myself, so in an effort to help you better understand TMD and it’s various symptoms, including headaches, here are some of the most common questions and comments I hear from patients who suffer with TMD:
Dear Shine Dental,
Whenever I open my mouth or chew food, there’s an uncomfortable clicking, almost like a popping, in my jaw. Sometimes my jaw even locks! Aside from being an annoyance, it often makes it difficult to enjoy meals. What’s causing this?
- Resistant Dieter
Dear Dieter,
This clicking or popping is the most common symptom of TMD and is caused by a lack of cartilage at the rear hinge point of your jaw. There are a number of possible reasons for this, one of which could be a misaligned jaw. Communicate all of your symptoms to your dentist, even the ones that don’t seem relevant. He may have the explanation, and solution you’ve been looking for.
Dear Shine Dental,
I often experience ringing in my ears as well as painful earaches. My physician says it could be a symptom of TMD. Is this true?
- Hearing Things
Dear Hearing,
Your physician is absolutely right! Ringing in the ears, or tinnitus, is often misdiagnosed and left untreated or treated unsuccessfully. In many cases, it’s caused by a misaligned jaw, distressing the muscles and nerves throughout the head, including the ears, and often a result of pressure on the ear canal.
Dear Shine Dental,
My husband says I grind my teeth so loudly at night that I keep him awake! What causes this and what can I do about it?
- Teeth Gnasher
Dear Gnasher,
The grinding of teeth, or bruxism, is usually caused by an irregular bone surface at the rear hinge point and can result in the damage of the TMJ disk and lead to soreness of the muscles and ligaments around the joint. It also results in worn down teeth, a condition that will worsen over time if not treated. Your dentist can custom-fit you with a night guard to protect your teeth from further damage.
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