Everything You Need to Know About TMJ

Everything You Need to Know About TMJ

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, more often known as TMJ, is a common problem that can cause pain, discomfort, and difficulty eating, speaking, and chewing. The good news is that TMJ is often treatable with help from your family dentist in Tottenham.

What is TMJ?

The temporomandibular joint connects your jaw and skull, allowing you to do such common everyday activities like opening and closing your mouth, moving your jaw from side to side – all the movements involved in eating, speaking, and chewing.

Many people experience pain and inflammation in this joint, which are referred to as TMDs, or temporomandibular disorders. TMJ is the more common name for a TMD.

What causes TMJ?

Unfortunately, we don’t always know what causes TMJ, but it usually results from injuries to the muscles in the jaw, or the joint itself. These injuries can develop slowly over time from habits like tooth clenching or grinding at nighttime or when you’re under stress. These habits are hard to break because they usually happen in your sleep or when you’re distracted by work. TMJ can also develop in an instant if you bump your head or have an accident that causes whiplash. It can also be caused by arthritis in your jaw, or overuse of the disc between the joint ball and socket.

What are the signs and symptoms of TMJ?

TMJ is painful, so it’s usually pretty easy to tell if you have TMJ. That said, if you do suspect you have TMJ, visit a professional to get a proper diagnosis and discuss treatment options.

Common symptoms include:

  • Toothaches
  • Neck pain
  • Earaches
  • Hearing problems
  • Headaches
  • A clicking sound or feeling when you open your mouth wide
  • Fatigue when you’re eating or chewing
  • Sudden, sharp pain from time to time when eating
  • Facial swelling
  • Shoulder pain
  • Ringing in the ears.

How is TMJ treated?

Your dentist in Tottenham will work with you to understand the most likely causes of your TMJ and recommend a range of treatments that may include mouth guards to prevent you from clenching or grinding your teeth, or to stop certain behaviours like gum chewing.

If you think you have TMJ and would like to be assessed, call our team at Queen Street Dental in Tottenham to schedule an appointment today. We’ll examine your mouth, teeth, and jaw, determine the problem, and work with you to find the best possible treatment option.

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