Are you familiar with that nagging headache or the incapacitating pain of a migraine? Many might not realize that such discomforts can be symptoms of a dental condition known as Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD).
At Fairchance Dental Arts, we educate our patients about TMD and offer solutions to address it. If you experience frequent headaches or other symptoms associated with TMD, our expert team is here to help guide you toward relief. Call our office today to get started.
Understanding TMD
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the axis that connects your upper and lower jaws together. This crucial joint aids in everyday actions such as speaking, chewing, and yawning. The bone’s complex design combines hinge and sliding motions. However, when this multifaceted joint faces strain or injury, the resulting condition is termed TMD.
Daily habits like using teeth as makeshift tools or consistently sitting with a hunched back not only stress the jaw joint but can also predispose the surrounding muscles to tension. Over time, these seemingly benign behaviors can amplify TMD symptoms and prolong recovery.
TMD treatment helps to alleviate these concerns based on your personal needs. A few common causes that may guide our TMD treatment may include:
- Persistent Teeth Grinding (Bruxism): This night-time habit can exert excessive pressure on your jawline, which in turn sparks TMD disorder.
- Physical Jaw Trauma: As with any other bone in your body, accidents or blows to the face can misalign the joint and cause chronic damage.
- Teeth Misalignment (Malocclusion): TMD often sparks from unaligned teeth, especially if it hasn’t been addressed over time.
- Arthritis: Degenerative joint diseases can additionally affect the temporomandibular joint, causing inflammation and pain. TMD treatment can ease these concerns.
Recognizing the Signs
TMDs can come in many forms and have any number of causes. Because of their vulnerable location on the edge of the jaw, TMJs can easily become injured in a car accident or a sporting event. A hit to the face might dislocate the jaw and, by extension, create TMD complications.
Persistent TMD pain might indicate a deeper issue requiring a specialized approach. Our dental team can evaluate your symptoms, and suggest treatments such as physical therapy, dental appliances, or, in some cases, surgery.
Here are some subtle symptoms that should be checked out if they don’t seem to go away.
- Muscle pain during chewing
- Limited or stiff jaw movement
- Noticeable changes in bite
- Clicking or popping jaw
Proper Jaw Health Is Essential
It takes a village of healthy bones (and helpful dentists) to sustain a smile! Our jawline is the structure that keeps these bones happy and healthy. TMJ treatment opens the door to several impactful health benefits, including the benefits listed below.
Manage Chronic Pain
TMD treatment can help patients in every stage of their jaw pain—whether they’ve dealt with it for days or years. Long-term jaw pain rarely goes away on its own, so our team suggests handling this concern sooner rather than later.
Enjoy eating, drinking, and socializing without the limitations of jaw pain while interacting with others. Many patients find that addressing jaw pain helps them live life more fully, allowing them to focus on the moments in life that matter most.
Facilitate Proper Digestion
One of your jawline’s roles is to help you digest your food—which many patients tend to overlook. Minimal jaw functionality and discomfort can lead to patients being unable to digest food well. This concern can impede your digestive system and negatively affect your general health.
Ease jaw discomfort and digestion with TMD treatment! TMD treatment can be adjusted to fit your personal, healthy eating habits. Enjoy a home-cooked meal even better by relieving symptoms of jaw pain right when you recognize them.
Protect the Jaw Joint
The joint central to TMD holds together your jawbones. If one jawbone is impeded, your whole jawline can be prone to injury in the future. Prevent the risk of dental emergencies or long-term dental damage with the help of TMD treatment.
The Connection Between TMD and Headaches
A common symptom that we receive here at Fairchance Dental Arts is headaches. If you’re experiencing frequent tension headaches or migraines, it might be related to TMD. The main reason for the headache—TMD connection is tension. Stress-related jaw clenching puts strain on the TMJ, neck, and shoulders, leading to pain and headaches.
Chronic tension and strain in this region can predispose individuals to a range of other issues, such as migraines or tension-type headaches. The connection between the jaw’s position and your overall posture can also impact the cervical spine, potentially intensifying headache symptoms.
Recognizing these interconnected systems underscores the importance of a holistic approach to diagnosis and treatment. It’s not just about addressing the symptoms but understanding the root causes and their broader implications on one’s health. Our team is here to help you address these concerns for you and your family!
How Fairchance Dental Arts Treats TMD
In all instances, partnering with Drs. Megan and Caleb Beam ensure you receive a holistic and tailored approach to TMD care. Their expertise can guide you to the most effective treatments and help you navigate to a pain-free life.
Here are several effective solutions our office uses to mitigate the discomfort of TMD symptoms. We will go through each of these treatments more in-depth during your first appointment.
I haven’t been to the dentist in a few years because I have a fear of the dentist, but Brittany and Dr. Megan were fantastic. They were patient and actually catered to the fact I had a dental fear. I’ve never been more comfortable at the dentist before, and they were so thorough with x-rays and exams, they found out and told me I was tongue tied! I also have TMJ and Dr. Megan was very thorough for a quick exam, and laid out my options of treatment. They immediately scheduled me to fix me up, and gave me an amazing cleaning. I can’t wait to go back!
– Katy W.
Lifestyle Adjustments
When we start assessing the root of your TMD, the solution may just be as simple as being a little bit more deliberate about how you use your jawline. In some cases, your jawline may just need a break from more strenuous tasks—just like any of us!
Being conscious of these habits, as advised by Drs. Caleb and Megan Beam, can make a profound difference in your long-term jaw health. A simple switch from chips to fruit, for example, can make a long-term impact on your overall well-being. These softer foods can reduce the possibility of TMD.
Fairchance Dental Arts strives to maintain simple, mindful practices that can lead you and your family to significant relief over time.
Physical Therapy and Exercises
Targeted exercises, under the guidance of trained professionals, can both alleviate current discomfort and prevent future flare-ups. By strengthening and improving the flexibility of jaw muscles, physical therapy addresses the root causes of the pain.
An easy technique you can practice today to help treat TMD is to place the tongue gently against the roof of the mouth. This simple exercise trains the jaw to remain in a relaxed, slightly open stance, thereby minimizing tension to the rest of your jawline.
TMD Mouth Guard
These specially designed devices are worn at night to prevent the harmful effects of teeth clenching and grinding. Not only do they provide immediate relief, but they also guard against long-term damage to the teeth and jaw. These custom-fitted devices align the jaw in a favorable position, reducing strain on the joint and surrounding muscles.
Regular use can mitigate symptoms, protect dental integrity, and offer a more restful night’s sleep for those grappling with TMD discomfort.
Muscle Relaxants
These can offer immediate relief, especially during intense flare-ups. Over-the-counter pain relievers can reduce inflammation and provide comfort, while muscle relaxants can address the muscular tension often associated with TMD.
What If TMD Pain Doesn’t Go Away?
Fairchance Dental Arts offers you the chance to relieve some of these symptoms with our TMD treatments. Our well-trained professionals will create a splint therapy plan that will have you eating, sleeping, and living better in no time. In many cases, we will need to check multiple treatment options to completely alleviate your TMD concerns.
In terms of mouthguards, these tools may need occasional adjustments to precisely pinpoint where the impacted joint is strained. Their general purpose is to relieve stress in the jaw so that it can rest and recover. How it does this, however, is quite varied depending on the person.
Because there are so many different types of stressors to the TMJ, treatment for each case will be unique and will be consistently personalized to effectively find relief.
At-Home Remedies
It may take a little bit of time to pinpoint your particular pain points with TMD. While severe cases of TMD may necessitate constant professional intervention, there are several dentist-recommended strategies one can employ at home to alleviate discomfort.
- Use A Compress: A cold compress applied to the affected area for 15–20 minutes can reduce inflammation and provide immediate relief.
- Consume Soft Foods: Consuming softer foods can help reduce the strain on the TMJ. Hard foods like nuts, candy, and certain vegetables can irritate your jaw joints.
- Manage Stress: Methods such as meditation, deep breathing, or gentle jaw stretches can further prevent involuntary jaw clenching—which can cause TMD.
In cases where pain persists or worsens, it’s vital to consult a dental professional for a more tailored approach. However, these simple, home-based practices offer a starting point for those looking to manage TMD symptoms.
Reducing TMD Pain
TMD pain can easily be prevented by maintaining simple daily habits. Here are a few concerns that Drs. Caleb and Megan Beam may suggest that goes beyond the conventional TMD treatment.
Whatever the treatment may be, rest assured our team has your best interests in mind!
Practice Proper Posture
Your posture is key to balancing out the rest of your body properly. At the heart of this connection lies the intricate network of muscles, nerves, and bones within the facial and neck region. Such a complex system means that any imbalance can lead to cascading effects on your well-being.
The connection between the jaw’s position and your overall posture can also impact the cervical spine, potentially intensifying TMD symptoms such as headaches or migraines. Our team will instruct you on how to properly balance your jaw joints to minimize these complications.
Repair Displaced Teeth
Your smile is built to perform in its natural state. When cracks or missing teeth come in the way, it can lead to excessive strain on the rest of your teeth.
Unresolved orthodontic work, such as crooked teeth, can also be a common cause of TMD treatment. Our team uses Invisalign® clear aligners to clear up these issues in an efficient, transparent manner. Feel free to visit our Invisalign page for more information about this product!
Prevent Tooth Injuries
TMD pain can sometimes spur suddenly through dental emergencies such as falls or damaged teeth. These concerns can come from tooth neglect or the unbearable impact of hard falls.
Fortunately enough, there are several precautionary measures you can take to alleviate the risk of dental emergencies. For example, if you love to play high-contact sports, be sure to wear a mouthguard to reduce the risk of intense damage.
Don’t let TMD discomfort overshadow your days. The caring team at Fairchance Dental Arts is here to provide solutions tailored to your needs. Whether it’s TMD, toothaches, or any other dental concern, we’re ready to assist. Schedule your consultation today, and take a step towards a more comfortable, brighter smile.
