Jaw Pain? Here Are the Top 3 FAQ’s to Know
TMJ is the group of muscles that control your jaw, and TMJ disorders can happen to anybody whose muscles begin to malfunction. People who suffer from TMJ not only experience a dull ache that is difficult to alleviate, but they also experience difficulty smiling, speaking, eating certain foods, and living a normal life. If you have TMJ or suspect you do, we are here to answer all your questions. Keep reading for our top three frequently asked questions regarding TMJ pain and what to do if you’re feeling pain in your jaw.
What Causes TMJ?
Adding to the complexity of TMJ disorders is that there are multiple causes, including cases where no obvious cause can be found. Some known causes are the following:
- Autoimmune diseases (in which the body’s immune cells attack healthy tissue)
- Infections
- Injuries to the jaw area
- Dental procedures (even prolonged mouth opening during dental treatment)
- Overextending the jaw when insertion a breathing tube before surgery
- Medication side effects that increase bruxism, exacerbate jaw pain, or cause severe jaw damage (e.g. SSRIs used to treat anxiety, OCD, depression and panic disorders, Antipsychotics, ADHD and Parkinson’s Disease medications, and osteoporosis/bisphosphonate drugs)
- Various forms of arthritis
Can I Leave TMJ Untreated? Will It Go Away?
If you suspect you might have a TMJ disorder, it is important to see a TMJ specialist as soon as possible. TMJ does not just go away on its own. In fact, it can worsen over time.
Symptoms to look out for include:
- Pain in your jaw muscles
- Pain in your neck and shoulders
- Frequent headaches
- Jaw locking
- Ear pain or ringing
- Bite feels wrong or “off”
- Dizziness
- Vision changes
Does TMJ Have a Cure?
Unfortunately, there is no magic pill you can take to cure your TMJ symptoms. However, there is treatment available for people experiencing TMJ disorders.
At Advanced Sleep and TMJ Solutions, our non-invasive methods can often provide almost instant relief from the pain you have been experiencing. Our holistic approach to treating TMJ requires no pills or surgery, and it treats the root cause rather than masking it with a band-aid.
TMJ Treatment with Advanced Sleep and TMJ Solutions
Tired of feeling pain in your jaw? You can live a normal life again, eat the foods you want again, and live pain-free with TMJ treatment.
Dr. Krissy Connor received her BSN in 2001 at the Marquette University School of Nursing. She was an emergency room nurse at Aurora Sinai Medical Center for 3 years before attending the Marquette University School of Dentistry to receive her DDS degree in 2008. She completed a post-graduate residency in Advanced Education in General Dentistry at the Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee, WI. She has been collaborating with physicians to treat patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea using oral appliance therapy since 2014.
Dr. Connor has been improving the lives of patients as the owner of Hypnos Inc. in Brookfield, WI. She is a diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine and the American Sleep and Breathing Academy.
Learn more at advancedsleepandtmjsolutions.com!
