If you frequently experience jaw pain, tooth sensitivity, or headaches, it could be a sign of a serious condition such as TMD or bruxism. These side effects can disrupt your day and decrease your quality of life. Your Allen Family Dentistry in TX may be able to help diagnose the problem and develop a helpful treatment plan to decrease your symptoms.
Bruxism May Be Worsened By TMD
Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction, or TMD, is a disorder that causes you to exert too much pressure on your joints. This may be caused by several factors including genetics, bite problems, injuries, and more. When your jaw experiences too much tension, it can cause pain when chewing, headaches, and may cause you to clench your teeth together. Many patients who have TMD are also found to have bruxism as well.
Bruxism is the chronic grinding of your teeth together. This issue is not directly caused by TMJ, but the condition may worsen if TMJ is left untreated. Other factors that may cause bruxism include genetics, high stress, misalignment, and more. Patients who grind their teeth together chronically can cause major wear and tear. As a result, your pearly whites may become weakened over time. This can make them feel sensitive to chewing and increase the likelihood of developing cavities, which can lead to needing several restorations to repair in the future.
Your Dentist May Be Able To Help
It can be difficult to stop these problems on your own because you may be unaware that they are happening. If you frequently experience symptoms like headaches or tooth pain, you can bring these up to your dentist at your next appointment. They can examine your teeth and jaw to look for other signs that you may not notice, like a clicking sound when moving your jaw or worn down teeth. These symptoms can be used to create a diagnosis. In many cases, bruxism and TMD can be treated without invasive surgeries.
Some lifestyle changes and a non-invasive appliance can be used to decrease your symptoms. Your dentist may recommend that you change your sleeping position, avoid hard to chew foods, and reduce your caffeine intake. In addition to this, an oral appliance may be able to help as well. This is worn at night to keep your jaw correctly positioned and protect your teeth from clenching as you sleep. It will be created to fit your smile snuggly and help address your specific needs. Overtime, you may notice less discomfort in the mornings. Other restorations may need to be done to restrengthen your teeth after your symptoms are managed.
Schedule An Appointment Today
Don’t let these conditions harm your smile further. Get started on treatment today by calling Allen Family Dentistry at 469. 342. 6644.
