Is jaw pain taking all the joy away from meal times?
Have sore, achy jaws become the new norm for you? Do you find that just trying to bite into a burger or large sandwich has your jaws making weird popping or clicking sounds? Could your pain be due to TMJ disorder? Our Kennesaw, GA, dentists – Dr. David Goettee and Dr. Chase Hall – are here to shed a little light on TMJ disorder.
At this point, you may be wondering, “What is TMJ disorder?” TMJ (temporomandibular joint) is the joint that connects the jaws to the skull. These joints are found on either side of the jaws and they are pretty important, as they are responsible for helping you to bite, chew and even speak. You could say that you wouldn’t get far without these joints. Of course, there are certain scenarios that can affect how the jaw joints function, from misalignments in your smile to teeth grinding to stress. This dysfunction can lead to TMJ disorder.
So, what are some symptoms that might just be trying to tell you that you have a TMJ disorder? The most common is jaw pain. Pain may be achy and throbbing or you may just feel as if your jaws are sore and tired all the time. Pain may be persistent or may be intermittent. Sometimes you may even hear a popping or clicking sound when opening your mouth wide. In more serious cases, you may find that the jaws lock up on you.
Fortunately, symptoms can often be managed with at-home remedies. We can show you stretching exercises that you can perform every day to help manage your symptoms and reduce pain. We will also discuss other ways to manage stress or teeth grinding, two possible causes of TMJ disorder.
If you are dealing with jaw pain that just won’t go away then it’s time you sought the relief you need. Call West Cobb Dentistry in Kennesaw, GA, today to find out what’s going on. Don’t let jaw pain affect your life.
