TMJ FAQ: Everything You Want to Know
Do you have TMJ, know someone with TMJ, or suspect you have it? TMJ is a difficult condition that causes an immense amount of pain in many people. It can stop you from doing things you enjoy, such as eating a hamburger, or lead to more serious health issues, such as sleep apnea. Want to know more about TMJ? Keep reading to learn more about the most frequently asked questions regarding TMJ and what proper TMJ treatment is like.
What Causes TMJ?
Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are a group of more than 30 conditions that cause pain and dysfunction in the jaw joint and muscles that control jaw movement. “TMDs” refers to the disorders, and “TMJ” refers only to the temporomandibular joint itself. People have two TMJs; one on each side of the jaw. You can feel them by placing your fingers in front of your ears and opening your mouth.
When these muscles become out of place, they can cause difficult and painful symptoms. Knowing how your TMJ started and what causes flare-ups is important for your treatment specialist in order to give you the best treatment. Some of the most common causes for TMJ include:
- Injury to the jaw
- Arthritis
- Teeth clenching
- Teeth grinding
- Genetics
Is There a Cure for TMJ?
There is no fast fix for TMJ, such as a pill you can take, but there are ways you can alleviate your painful symptoms while also receiving treatment for long-term success. Some ways you can help your TMJ symptoms include:
- Avoiding large foods that require you to open your mouth wide, such as an apple or hamburger
- Avoid chewing gum
- Taking over-the-counter pain relievers
- Ice and heat
The most common TMJ symptoms include:
- Pain around the jaw
- Pain around the ear
- Difficulty chewing
- Locking of the jaw joint
- Clicking sounds
These simple lifestyle changes can help with your symptoms, but they will not fix the TMJ disorder itself. This requires treatment from a specialist who can review your particular case and develop an individualized treatment plan.
What is Proper TMJ Treatment?
If you are worried that TMJ treatment may require surgery or other invasive approaches, it doesn’t!
At Advanced Sleep and TMJ Solutions, Dr. Connor has a national reputation for treating patients suffering from TMJ/TMD. Her revolutionary, non-invasive methods can, in many instances, almost instantly relieve the pain that you have been suffering. Dr. Connor’s holistic approach to treating TMJ requires no pills or surgery, and it treats the root cause so that once treatment is complete, your TMJ will be nothing more than a distant memory.
Our treatment methods depend on your particular case, what caused your TMJ symptoms to begin, and what causes your flare-ups. TMJ does not go away on its own and will actually worsen over time, causing a variety of other health issues, depression, chronic pain, and more.
For more information or to schedule your consultation today, visit us at AdvancedSleepAndTMJSolutions.com!
