Your temporomandibular joints (TMJs) play a crucial role in your daily comfort. These joints, which control your lower jaw, are responsible for opening, closing, and moving your mouth, allowing you to eat, speak, and express emotions. When these joints do not function smoothly, you may experience discomfort or pain that affects your quality of life. Although TMJ disorder (TMD) impacts millions, many individuals remain unaware that their symptoms are indicative of this condition. Do you have TMD? This blog post discusses how you can find out.
A Straightforward Home Evaluation for TMJ Issues
You do not need specialized equipment to perform a preliminary assessment of your TMJ health. You may try a simple test at home to determine whether you should consult a dental professional. Follow these instructions:
- Slightly open your mouth and place your fingertips just in front of each ear, where your jaw meets your skull.
- Slowly open your mouth as wide as you comfortably can, allowing you to feel your jaw joints move beneath your fingertips.
- Take note of any clicking, popping, or discomfort as you continue to open and close your mouth.
- Apply gentle pressure to your jaw joints. If you experience tenderness, this may indicate a problem with your TMJs.
Common Signs Indicating TMJ Disorder
In addition to performing the above test, you should also be aware of common symptoms of TMD, which include:
- Frequent or persistent pain in your jaw, face, or ears.
- Difficulty moving your jaw when chewing, speaking, or opening your mouth wide.
- Sensations of your jaw locking or catching.
- Noises such as popping, clicking, or grating when you move your jaw.
- Recurring headaches or pain that travels to your neck and shoulders.
- Feelings of ear congestion, ringing, or fullness without an ear infection.
- Noticeable swelling on the side of your face or changes in the way your teeth fit together.
What to Do If You Notice Symptoms
If you suspect that you have TMJ disorder, reach out to a dentist who has experience in evaluating and managing this condition. Your dentist will likely:
- Conduct a thorough examination of your mouth, jaw, and surrounding areas.
- Use dental X-rays or other imaging to assess the condition of your jaw joints.
- Discuss your symptoms, review your dental and medical history, and then propose a potential treatment plan for your TMD.
Possible Treatment Options for Relief
Your path to relief may involve several possible solutions. Your dentist may recommend one or more of the following:
- Minor adjustments to your bite, known as equilibration, to help distribute pressure more evenly across your teeth.
- A custom-fitted oral appliance, called an occlusal splint, that relieves stress on your TMJs and jaw muscles.
- Other therapies tailored to your unique needs.
TMD can affect your jaw health and quality of life! If you believe you have it, speak with a qualified professional about diagnosis and treatment.
Meet the Practice
At Sound Dentistry in Easton, we offer a broad range of top-quality treatments, including TMJ therapy. After we evaluate your jaw joints and learn about your symptoms, we will do all we can to get you on the path to relief. To learn more about us and how we may be able to serve you, contact our office at 508-230-3737.