Your mouth features two temporomandibular joints that allow your jaw to move up and down and from side to side. Problems with these hinges are typically categorized as temporomandibular joint disorders, or TMD, and can require treatment from dentists. If you think you might have a TMD issue but are not certain, the following guide explores this common condition and its treatments. 

Symptoms

Common signs of TMD include jaw pain and tenderness, which can occur in one or both joints. Symptoms can also include aching facial and ear pain, chewing challenges and discomfort, and lockjaw issues that make opening and closing the mouth problematic. 

Popping, grating, and clicking noises often happen upon chewing or speaking when there is a TMD issue. Swelling around the joint(s) and sides of the face can occur from related inflammation, as can feelings of facial tiredness or fatigue. 

Causes

While dentists and doctors continue to research the cause of TMD, several risk factors can trigger symptoms. Excessive teeth grinding, or bruxism, puts pressure on the jawbone joints and is considered a primary factor for TMD. The pressure causes swelling and pain, with most people grinding their teeth while they sleep. Teeth grinding is often a stress response, though it can also happen because of conditioning, such as chewing gum regularly. 

Other potential causes include jawbone injuries, including those from whiplash and severe blows that trigger TMD inflammation and damage. Arthritis in these joints also causes swelling. 

Treatment Options 

If TMD is related to bruxism, jaw relaxation techniques can prove effective, such as applying a warm compress to the joints and performing deep breathing exercises that relax the whole body. A custom nite guard created by a dentist provides bruxism relief by providing a protective barrier between the upper and lower teeth. 

Treatment can also include consuming soft foods that don't tax the jaw, taking anti-inflammatory medications, and performing jaw stretching and strengthening exercises. Injections and surgery provide treatment for severe TMD, including corticosteroid injections that relieve swelling and open-joint surgery that repairs or replaces the damaged joint. 

If you suspect you have TMD, contact Coulee Family Dental in La Crosse, WI. The dentists at this family practice provide various dental services, including routine cleanings and preventive care, extractions, implants, teeth whitening, and sleep disorder treatments. Visit the website for a complete list of services, or call (608) 782-3102 to schedule an appointment.