T.M.J.

what is it?

The temporomandibular joint is the joint on each side of the face that allows you to move your jaw for such activities as eating and talking. 

[photo source: http://www.aaoms.org/tmj.php ]

t.m.j. disorder

Symptoms.

Pain is never normal. If you feel any of the following symptoms you should see your dentist!! 

Headaches

Ear pain that is not associated with an infection

Pain when you chew

Pain in the head, face, and neck

Muscle spasms when chewing

Sounds (clicking, popping, and/or cracking) when opening and closing your mouth

Difficulty opening or closing the mouth

Causes.

 

Stress

Injuries to the jaw

Arthritis

Malocclusion (misaligned bite)

treatments.

Night guard

 

The most common treatment your dentist will provide. This is a plastic mouth piece that is to be worn at night. It has a hard exterior and a soft interior. The night guard allows for the cushioning of the teeth so that you do not put any excess stress on your teeth and jaw. Click here for more information on how stress can affect your teeth. 

Avoidance (eating soft, non-chewy foods only) 

Simple enough but seriously limits your food choices! Can you imagine eating soup for the rest of your life?!

Analgesics (medication, ice packs, heat compresses, etc.)

If some days are worse than others because of stress or excessive chewing, try some of the treatments listed above to relieve the discomfort. 

Orthodontics

If the reason for your TMJ disorder is an over-bite, under-bite or crooked teeth, braces will be needed to align your smile and alleviate the strain on your joint. Click here for our blog post on orthodontics. 

Surgery

In extreme cases where a night guard and orthodontics are not working, your dentist might recommend that you see an oral surgeon to have your jaw fixed. This is usually a last resort and not recommended often. 

Always remember: Whenever you notice that your mouth just doesn't feel right you should come in to see your dentist! 

Call us to schedule an appointment!

215.567.4949

Take a look at our website for more information on this and other dental conditions and services we provide!

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The Daily Grind

Bruxism [bruhk-siz-uhm]

Here's a scenario...

It's 6am and your alarm is going off. Immediately you're feeling the stress. Traffic is already happening and you haven't even had breakfast yet. 

You finally get to work and it's one of those days where everything is going wrong.

You sit in traffic again on your commute home and find out that your children were wreaking havoc on the house. You get through dinner and are getting ready for bed at 11:45pm.  

The next morning you wake to your alarm again but this morning your jaw feels tense. It hurts to yawn. Chewing your bagel at breakfast is painful. All throughout the day you have a headache. 

As days go by you notice that the discomfort in your jaw, mouth, and head have not gone away and now your back teeth are really sensitive. 

You go to your dentist and he or she asks you if you're grinding your teeth. And you look at them in confusion and say, "I don't know. How can I tell?" 

Sound familiar? 

What you may have is bruxism or a habitual grinding of the teeth, usually done at night while you're sleeping, and is usually caused by stress. The jaw pain associated is called Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ).

All the stress and tension of your day that you've been suppressing is expressing itself when you are sleeping and your mouth, jaw, and head are the victims! 

So, what can your dentist do for you?

Stress is not always an easy thing to relieve so a dentist will design for you a Night Guard to cushion the teeth when you're grinding. This prevents the wearing away of tooth enamel and lessens the pressure on your mouth and jaw. 

If you are experiencing headaches, jaw pain, tooth sensitivity or pain that might be associated with bruxism, call us to schedule an evaluation!

215.567.4949

For this and other dental issues please take a look at our website:

pjmouradiandmd.com