Over 10 million Americans suffer from headaches, jaw pain and other upper body ailments because of Temporomandibular Joint Disorders or TMD. Talking, chewing, and yawning can be excruciatingly painful experiences for TMD sufferers.
TMD is a complicated disorder causing a myriad of problems. The symptoms originate at the temporomandibular joint located where the jawbone meets the skull. The jaw joint, unlike other joints in the body, is very complex made up of two joints which allows the jaw to both slide and rotate. An unhealthy joint will pop and deviate when in motion, causing acute pain throughout the mouth and head.
More Symptoms
Some patients have lived with TMD for years before the pain forced them to seek medical help. Women are more likely than men to suffer from this painful jaw disorder. While many patients are born with TMD, some sufferers contract the problem from a trauma to the head, face or neck.In both cases, here are some common symptoms of TMD:
· Frequent headaches
· Atypical facial pain
· Clicking or popping jaw joints
· Stiffness in jaw joints making opening and closing the mouth difficult
· Pain when chewing, grinding or clenching teeth
· Warn out teeth
· Teeth don’t touch when biting
· Neck and shoulder pain
· Otalgia - Ear pain
· Tinnitus – constant buzzing or ringing sound in the ears
TMD can affect all components surrounding the jaw joint including: muscles, connective tissue, nerves, ligaments, bones and tendons. Muscle pain is the most common complaint and can be aggravated by normal everyday habits:
· Clenching and grinding
· Constant gum chewing
· Biting habits such as fingernail biting
Treatment
For many TMD patients, symptoms can disappear after little or no treatment, while others may experience significant problems and turn to surgery for relief. For lighter symptoms, self-managed care can alleviate discomfort for some patients:
·Eating softer foods
·Applying ice packs
·Avoiding wide yawning
·Avoid gum chewing
·Take over the counter pain medication
·Reduce stress
If the patient is still experiencing significant pain and discomfort, there are other steps to try before considering surgery. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommends the following options provided by your TMD specialist:
· Prescription medications prescribed by a healthcare provider.
· Gentle jaw stretching and relaxation exercises you can do at home. Your healthcare provider can recommend exercises for your particular condition, if appropriate.
· Stabilization splint (biteplate, nightguard) or Mandibular Repositioning Device as recommended by your health care provider. The splint needs to fit properly and used only for a short period of time and not cause permanent changes to your bite.
The last resort is oral surgery. Be sure to see a qualified, experienced TMD specialist to help you decide on the best option for you.
