Poor jaw alignment and problems with an uneven or awkward bite can lead to frustration and recurring pain. These issues, known as TMJ disorder, can cause you pain when you try to bite and chew, lead to problems with chronic teeth grinding, and cause you to have pain in your face, neck, and head. While there is no single issue that leads to TMJ problems, they can be resolved when you address poor alignment and deal with any stressors on your jaw joints and muscles. At Sunny Smiles, we are ready to help you put problems with TMJ disorder in the past. Many people benefit from oral appliance therapy, which means a custom appliance gently corrects your jaw’s position to ease pain and sensitivity.
Are You Experiencing Symptoms Of TMJ Disorder?
How can you tell if your issues with aches and pains are linked to TMJ disorder? The following are often associated with this issue:
- Problems with stiff, limited, or painful jaw movement
- An increase in teeth grinding, particularly while you are asleep
- Popping or clicking noises from your jaw when you bite or speak
- Headaches, facial pain, or pain in your neck and shoulder
These issues can start to affect you on a daily basis. If jaw clenching or grinding is part of your problem, the damage to your teeth caused by your habit can lead to problems that require restorative dental work, or call for cosmetic dentistry to address unsightly changes to your enamel.
How An Oral Appliance Eases Chronic Jaw Pain
By wearing a custom oral appliance that you wear each night, you can reduce discomfort and correct problems with poor jaw alignment. The guard holds your jaw in a more comfortable position, one that helps you restore better movement and reduces the tension on your joints and muscles. In some cases, patients with bite problems that make poor joint alignment a problem can benefit from receiving dental crowns to restore teeth that are not contributing enough to their biting and chewing efforts. Some can be advised to pursue orthodontic treatment to change their bite for the better.
Treating Bruxism (Before You Suffer Dental Damage)
Nightly teeth grinding wears down your tooth enamel. Eventually, you can see unwelcome changes in your appearance because your teeth appear flattened or worn. You can even experience damage that negatively affects your dental health! The sooner you address this problem, known as bruxism, the sooner you can put an end to this smile threat.
Talk To Sunny Smiles If You Think TMJ Disorder Affects You
If you let problems with TMJ disorder go untreated, you can experience prolonged pain and even experience dental damage due to bruxism! To find out how we can help you, please contact our Sunny Smiles office on N Zaragoze Rd in El Paso, TX by calling 915-849-9000.