Are you dealing with sore, achy jaws? You could be suffering from a TMJ disorder.

Do you hear a popping or clicking sound when you yawn or chew your food? Do you feel like your jaws feel achy or are in pain quite often? Do you wake up with headaches? If you’ve said yes to any of these questions, then it’s time you talked to our Milford, MA, dentists, Dr. Peyman Beigi and Dr. Nina Raeisian, about TMJ disorders.

What is a TMJ disorder?

The TMJ, known as the temporomandibular joint, is what connects the jaws to the skull and allows you to move the jaws up and down. You use these joints everyday for talking and chewing but unless you have trouble with your joint you wouldn’t even notice them. Of course, if this joint causes pain or discomfort this could mean that you are dealing with a TMJ disorder.

What are the symptoms?

There are many symptoms that someone with a TMJ disorder can experience. We mentioned just a few of them above. If you find that your jaws pop, click or make any noises when you open your mouth, this could be a telltale sign of a TMJ disorder. You may notice that the pain and achiness spreads past the jaws to the neck or even shoulders. There may even be some swelling present.

If you’ve had a TMJ disorder for a while our Milford, MA, general dentist may be able to detect it by noticing excessive wear and tear on certain teeth. If you are experiencing sore or painful jaws then it’s time to have the issue checked out.

What causes this disorder?

While it isn’t always possible to be able to determine the cause of your TMJ disorder there are a few things that could be to blame:

• Trauma to the jaw or jaw joint
• Teeth grinding, jaw clenching or nail biting
• A bad bite (also known as a “malocclusion”)
• A structural imbalance in the jaws or face
• Tooth loss
• Stress
• Worn teeth

What are my treatment options?

You’ll be relieved to hear that many cases of TMJ disorder go away on their own; however, you may be interested in finding relief from your symptoms until the problem dissipates. There are some easy things you can do, depending on the cause including:

• Icing achy, sore joints to reduce swelling and pain
• Taking pain relievers and anti-inflammatories
• Performing stretching and strengthening exercises
• Wearing an oral splint or night guard
• dental restorations such as orthodontics or dental bridgework

Milford Dental Group is ready to help you maintain better jaw health and to get rid of the pain. If you think you could be dealing with a TMJ disorder then it’s time you called our Milford, MA, dental office to learn more.