When your jaw hurts, ignoring it isn’t usually an option. Like a severe toothache, jaw pain can demand your attention and make simple things like eating and speaking significantly more difficult. As a common cause behind chronic jaw pain, TMJ disorder can also generate recurring migraines, pain and ringing in the ears, and aching throughout a patient’s head, neck, face, and shoulders. Even if only mild, jaw discomfort should never be ignored. In some cases, the damage can lead to extensive treatment to restore your mouth’s ability to operate properly.
Interesting Facts About TMJ Pain
TMJ disorder is a complex condition to diagnose. Its diverse symptoms, aside from chronic jaw pain, are shared by many other health conditions, and patients often endure TMJ discomfort for years, failing to find an accurate diagnosis. Knowing about TMJ and the implications of jaw pain can help you find relief and prevent unnecessary bouts of discomfort.
- TMJ disorder doesn’t develop without a reason. The jaw dysfunction develops when TMJs become damaged or misaligned from excessive pressure. The source of this pressure can stem from crooked teeth, a congenital jawbone defect, habitual teeth-grinding (bruxism), or a host of other issues.
- TMJ symptoms are all in the nerves. When the jaw’s joints are damaged, they can disturb the jaw’s nerve, which is only one branch of the body’s most dominant nerve group. Consisting of three branches altogether, the trigeminal nerve innervates the majority of your craniofacial structures. When disturbed, the pain can traverse the nerve’s branches, leading to TMJ disorder’s wide variety of symptoms.
- Treating TMJ disorder depends on the reason for its development. Crooked teeth can be straightened with orthodontic treatment, and habitual teeth-grinding can be relieved with a custom oral appliance. However, some instances may require surgery to correct, such as an asymmetrical jawbone that didn’t form properly. Arthritis is also a factor in some patients, and may influence the appropriate course of TMJ disorder treatment.
