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TMD and Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction

The jaw joint is formally known as the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ. When there are problems with the jaw, this is known as TMD, which stands for temporomandibular joint disorder or temporomandibular joint dysfunction.

TMD symptoms are caused by swelling of the jaw muscles that lead to jaw joint problems. The most common symptoms of TMD include jaw popping or clicking, having a hard time opening or closing your mouth, a sore jaw, and even headaches.

TMD treatment can take many forms. Doing jaw exercises and eating soft foods can help relieve TMD pain, and pain relievers can reduce inflammation. A TMD dentist can prescribe a dental guard to wear at night to reduce teeth grinding. The most serious cases may call for TMD injections or TMD surgery.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.

New Responses to TMJ Disorder and Jaw Pain

Some 10 million people suffer from some form of TMJ Disorder: from jaw clicking or jaw popping whenever they yawn to intense migraine-like pain in the area around their ears. The temporomandibular joint is the hinge between your jaw and skull. The bone and muscles permit your jaw to move—not just up and down, but left and right, in and out. This kind of complexity is what makes TMJ Syndrome so common, and often so difficult to diagnose.

Helping You Solve the Problem

Modern dentistry has a whole array of TMJ Disorder responses—so your first response should be to make an appointment.

For some people, the answer may be a custom-fitted mouth guard to keep them from teeth grinding in their sleep. There’s even a battery-powered miniature sensing device, worn at night, to alert you when grinding occurs. Another plug-in device helps eliminate spasms and jaw pain by applying moist heat to the source of the pain for several minutes at a time.

If the problem stems from tooth alignment, orthodontic treatment can relieve the stress. Physical therapy, anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants and stress management are all possibilities. The key, as always, is identifying the problem and then finding the response that works best for you.

Possible causes of TMJ Disorder

• Nightly teeth grinding (bruxism)
• Poor head/shoulder posture, causing tension in neck and jaw muscles
• Arthritis in the joint
• Damaged jawbone/joint structure
• Nerves being pinched by ball of jaw

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.