Everything you need to know about jaw pain

Dr. Derek Fine — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 13:05:20 +0000

Jaw pain is a particularly uncomfortable situation to be in as it can affect eating, sleeping, talking and every aspect of daily life. Fortunately, it’s also something a specialist dentist can help you with. Aesthetic Family Dentistry are such specialists.

Temporomandibular joint

Jaw pain can be caused by many things, so is collectively known as jaw joint dysfunction. This dysfunction stops the jaw from working as it should and causes discomfort in everyday actions. This condition is often referred to as TMJ or temporomandibular joint disorder. You may also hear it called temporomandibular dysfunction.

The medical term for the jaw join where this discomfort happed is called the temporomandibular joint. This joint allows the mandible, the jaw bone, to move the way it does. It is one of the most complicated joints in the body as it needs to move up and down, backwards and forwards and left and right.

Typical symptoms of TMJ

Jaw pain can manifest in many ways but there are a series of typical symptoms that can often indicate a possible case of temporomandibular joint disorder. Those symptoms include:

Discomfort around the jaw, ear, neck or cheek
Restricted movement of the jaw
A clicking, popping or grating noise when moving the jaw
Frequent unexplainable headaches
Difficulty or discomfort when eating or talking
Swelling around the jaw
A perceived change in how your mouth fits together when closed

There are many more possible symptoms of TMJ but these are the most common. Unfortunately, these symptoms can also be caused by a number of other conditions. That makes it essential that you visit a dentist who is an expert in identifying and effectively treating TMJ. It is very frequently misdiagnosed, so we cannot overstate this point.

Typical treatments for jaw pain

There are as many treatments for jaw pain as there are versions of it. Many involve non-surgical, behavioral or lifestyle changes that are simple to achieve and result in no more discomfort. Some changes involve dental appliances. Only in very rare occurrences is surgery ever needed.

As holistic dentists, Aesthetic Family Dentistry can provide a range of complementary therapies such as massage or a chiropractor that can significantly help with the jaw pain. Other treatments can include some gentle jaw exercises, relaxation techniques, a realigning mouth guard or a range of other treatments. There are surgical interventions we can make but only as a last resort.

Jaw pain is something that could be easily treated as long as the causes are correctly identified. Using a dentist that has specialist training in TMJ is the first step to recovery. Aesthetic Family Dentistry is that dentist. Call us today to schedule a consultation. We’re here to help!

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How is Jaw Tension Linked to Migraines?

Dr. Derek Fine — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 21:13:48 +0000

Over 45 million Americans regularly get headaches, with 28 million of them suffering migraines. That’s a lot of people who have to cope with extreme discomfort at any one time.

People who grind their teeth or clench their jaw have been linked to higher cases of migraine. The link between jaw tension and headaches has been around for a while and it’s already an established part of holistic dentistry. This is an issue that can easily be rectified by the right treatment.

If you’re experiencing more headaches than usual or have started having migraines, this could be why. Of course, dental issues are only one possible cause of migraine, but a prevalent one nonetheless.

Of those who suffer from migraine:

60 percent suffer one-sided migraine
80 percent suffer nausea but only 30 percent are actually sick
80 percent of migraine sufferers are sensitive to light and noise
45 percent suffer from nasal congestion

Jaw tension and migraine

It is believed that jaw tension from stress and teeth grinding (bruxism) is a trigger for headaches. Most people who display these symptoms are unaware they are doing it. Often, teeth grinding happens when we’re asleep, so we remain unaware unless someone alerts us to it.

The same for jaw tension. We can clench our jaw unconsciously when stressed, which can turn into a habit causing migraines in the worst cases. While bruxism can cause headaches, it also prematurely wears teeth causing other dental issues. Fortunately, there are dental procedures that can help.

One such treatment is a neuromuscular orthotic. It looks a bit like a gum shield that is molded to your teeth. This splint keeps your teeth apart to prevent wear and can also realign your jaw if there are any alignment issues. It’s a very effective remedy for certain conditions and has been linked with a reduction in headaches and migraine with users.

As well as treating the symptoms, the team at Aesthetic Family Dentistry is keen to identify and treat the cause of jaw tension. As it is often stress related, we have a range of therapies that can help including massage and acupuncture. Both are known to relax muscles and address stress.

This combined approach is a very effective treatment for dental-related migraine. If you would like to know more, contact Aesthetic Family Dentistry today.

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