The jaw joint, or TMJ, is an important part of the human body that can often be overlooked. It is located at the back of your head and connects to both your upper and lower jaws.
The TMJ has two joints that control the opening and closing of the mouth when chewing, singing, talking, or yawning.
Unfortunately, the joints can get bruised and damaged and lead to pain in not only your jaw but also other areas such as the neck or shoulders. If you are experiencing pain it is time to seek TMJ treatment near you.
This is because TMJ symptoms can be very debilitating, and without treatment, they will only get worse.
TMJ disorder is a medical condition that affects your jaw and its function. TMJ pain can be caused by excessive or abnormal use of the muscles in this area, such as clenching or grinding teeth (Bruxism) or injury to the joint itself.
Some common symptoms include:
There are a few TMJ treatment options that you can choose from to eliminate TMJ pain. These include:
There are several types of medications for TMJ treatment, including:
The level of TMJ pain will determine the best kind of medication to use and for how long.
Your dentist near Magnolia will help you decide the best option.
Many TMJ therapies help deal with this issue, such as
TMJ injections can reduce TMJ pain by decreasing inflammation or relaxing muscles, but they are only used as a last resort when other therapies fail to provide relief. TMJ injections have potential side effects like infection and spreading of the toxin; therefore, you should know about them before getting an injection!
Some of the alternative TMJ treatments near Magnolia include TENS and Acupuncture.
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) units are used to relieve muscle spasms or sensations. A TENS unit stimulates the body’s painkilling and anti-inflammatory systems by returning sensory signals from skin and muscles to the body!
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical technique that uses thin needles to unblock your body’s energy flow.
Apart from the TENS and Acupuncture, you can also use heat and cold therapies that help to ease discomfort.
TMJ mouthguards can also protect your teeth and reduce the symptoms
Lifestyle change can go a long way in easing the TMJ symptoms. Eat a balanced diet – avoid acidic foods, processed food, and caffeinated drinks, stay hydrated, exercise, and get enough sleep.
TMJ surgery may be an option for patients who suffer TMJ pain, and the treatments have not been successful. Some surgical procedures that can be used include arthroplasty and complete joint replacement.
Visit Tamborello Dentistry for more information about TMJ treatment and which is most suitable.