Do you have tenderness or pain in your jaw? Do you have consistent pain around your ears? It may be difficult or painful to chew, or your jaw may lock, making it difficult to open or close your mouth. Â If you deal with any of these symptoms fairly consistently, you may need to be seen for TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorder. This is also sometimes referred to as TMD.
There are many potential causes of TMD. Your dentist, Dr. Mo Banki, can discuss probable causes and solutions for your specific case. TMJ disorder is sometimes linked to bruxism, or chronic grinding of teeth (typically at night while sleeping). As each case is different, it is vital that you see your dentist as soon as possible.
In the meantime, there are some things you can do to try and relieve or reduce some of your symptoms. Get adequate sleep to reduce stress. Chronic stress has been linked to both bruxism and TMJ disorder, thus reducing stress can be helpful to oral health. When you sleep, try sleeping on your back. This reduces pressure on your jaw. Use a pillow of the right firmness to keep your head, shoulders, and neck in alignment, which is also soft enough to allow your muscles to relax.
At MSL Surgery, we provide TMJ treatments to help your comfort and oral health. If you suspect you have TMJ and you are in Warwick, Rhode Island, call MSL Surgery at 401-739-5500 to schedule an appointment. Dr. Mo Banki and our team look forward to seeing you!