We recently discussed bruxism, and how teeth grinding impacts your smile. In today’s blog, your El Paso, TX, dentists are going to look at another jaw joint disorder, one that could also lead to discomfort and complications for your oral health. TMJ disorder, also known as TMD, could lead to jaw pain, headaches, and complications with everything from eating to speaking.
The Symptoms of TMD
How do you know if you’re suffering from TMJ disorder? This jaw joint complication could lead to a number of different symptoms, including migraines, headaches, jaw pain, and aches in the face, neck, and shoulders. You could experience a popping or clicking sensation in the smile as well. If the disorder has led to bruxism, or vice versa, then tooth sensitivity and toothaches could be common too. When you experience one or more of these potential warning signs, then please let us know right away. With a thorough examination, we can diagnose the presence of TMD and offer relief to protect your smile and improve your quality of life.
Causes and Complications
The disorder arises when the joints connecting your jaw and skull undergo excessive strain, which impacts how fully they open and close once the disorder develops. This could be caused by dental misalignment, tooth loss, injury to the face or jaw, or even issues with the growth of the jaw or the eruption of the teeth.
Without treatment, this could leave your smile vulnerable to daily aches and pains, an increased risk of teeth grinding (bruxism), and also damaged teeth, leading to the onset of tooth decay and infection. To avoid this discomfort and safeguard your oral health, you need to seek treatment. In the meantime, you can limit discomfort by avoiding very hard or chewy foods, caffeinated items, and you can use a warm washcloth to help minimize strain in the smile by applying it to the side of the face.
Solutions with Oral Appliance Therapy
To help treat the issue, we could gather detailed digital images of your smile and use them to design and fabricate an oral appliance. The device will fit like a mouthguard and you’ll wear it as you sleep. The appliance fits comfortably and helps shift the jaw to ease tension on the joints, so you avoid symptoms and enjoy better bite balance. If you have any questions about how to improve your bite balance, then contact our team today to learn more.
TALK TO SUNNY SMILES IN EL PASO, TX, ABOUT IMPROVING BITE BALANCE
We’re ready to help smiles stay comfortable and balanced with an oral appliance. If you’re ready to schedule a visit with our team, contact our Sunny Smiles location on N Zaragoza Rd in El Paso, TX at 915-849-9000.