November is National TMJ Awareness Month and we want to make sure you are well-informed about TMJ disorders and how you can treat and prevent them. If you think you may have TMD (temporomandibular disorder), don’t hesitate to contact our dentist near Uptown today and we will get started on a treatment plan to ease your pain.
The Facts
Your two temporomandibular joints are sliding hinges that connect your lower jaw to the temporal bones of your skull in front of each ear. TMD is a disorder that affects your jaw and the surrounding muscles that control your temporomandibular joint.
The Causes
If you injure your jaw through a high-contact sport or an accident, you may suffer from TMD. Other causes that can lead to this type of pain include:
- Grinding or clenching your teeth, which is common throughout the night. This is also called Bruxism.
- Arthritis in the joint.
- High stress, which can cause you to actually tighten your facial and jaw muscles—even clench your teeth.
The Treatments
Our dentist near Uptown doesn’t want you to suffer from TMJ pain as it can hinder your daily activities and routine. Make sure you visit us so we can begin figuring out which treatment will work best for you. Some treatment options include:
- OTC Pain Relievers: Consider taking over-the-counter pain medications to relieve your pain. Sometimes they work and sometimes they aren’t strong enough, which is when you should contact us.
- Tricyclic Antidepressants: While this is actually a depression medication, it can actually be used for pain relief in small doses.
- Muscle Relaxants: These drugs can be used for a few days or weeks in order to relieve your TMJ pain if you have muscle spasms.
- Mouth Guards: Jaw pain through the night and into the day can be controlled by wearing a firm mouth guard over the teeth to keep from grinding your teeth.
- Botulinum toxin can be used to weaken the muscles involved with teeth clenching and bruxing.
Reach Out
Contact us today or visit us on North Halsted Street if you feel you may be suffering from TMD. We look forward to meeting you and making sure you can begin receiving treatment to help ease your pain.