TMJ Symptoms And How You Can Make Sure If You Have It Or Not
Temporomandibular joint disease is the condition where the joint that connects the skull and jaw becomes swollen. It causes difficulty in opening the mouth and moving the jaw. It also becomes painful for the sufferer to do so. It also causes headaches, nausea and sometimes, infection of the mouth.
A variety of treatments are available to patients. Morning jaw exercises and using a nighttime biofeedback headband may be enough for cases that aren't too severe. If the condition has progressed however, a long term treatment or an operation is needed. As you can see, being able to diagnose the condition early is very important so one needs to know the various TMJ symptoms.
TMJ symptoms vary and some may be experienced by the patient while some are not. This varied difference of indications can be attributed to the fact that the condition is caused by a myriad of things. A dental problem can cause the joint to swell acutely. One dental problem that may cause the syndrome is unaligned teeth as it makes the jaw contract in an abnormal way, putting more pressure to the jaw and the joint. People who lack an overbite are also prone to the condition.
Overusing the jaw can also cause inflammation to the joint. If one chews gum excessively, he or she may experience temporomandibular joint disease. Clenching the teeth unconsciously during sleep is another cause. Injuries to the jaw may also cause the joint to swell.
The following are the TMJ symptoms you should look out for: difficulty in biting, chewing and moving the mouth; clicking or popping sounds when moving mouth; earaches and headaches (specially in the morning); migraines, jaw pain and loss hearing. If you are suffering from this, you may also suffer Tinnitus. This is the hearing of sound absent an external source.
If you think you have the syndrome, then you should see a doctor first just to make sure whether you do have it or not. If you think your teeth have something to do with it, you can also visit a dentist. Again, it is real important for you to know early if you have it or not for it may require extreme measures for it to be cured if left ignored.
Temporomandibular joint syndrome causes pain in the jaw and difficulty in moving your mouth. It can be treated with simple exercises but if the case is too severe, the patient may need to go under the knife. An operation can be avoided by knowing TMJ symptoms and having an early diagnosis.
Published August 15th, 2011
Filed in Health