Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are problems with the muscles and joints that connect your jaw to your skull. These problems cause pain when you talk, chew, swallow, or yawn. You may feel this pain on one or both sides.
TMDs are often caused by tight jaw muscles. The tightness can be caused by clenching or grinding your teeth.
Lowering stress may help relax your jaw and reduce your pain. Your doctor may suggest a dental splint. Splints can help protect the teeth from grinding and clenching.
You may be able to do some things at home to feel better. If that doesn't work for you, your doctor may prescribe medicine to help relax your muscles and control the pain.
Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are jaw problems that cause pain when you talk, chew, swallow, or yawn. The most common cause is tight jaw muscles. This can be from clenching your jaw or grinding your teeth at night.
What happens when you have a TMD varies depending on the reason for the muscle tension.
A one-time overuse injury (such as holding your mouth open for a long time during a dental exam) may go away without treatment.
Ongoing (chronic) muscle tension (such as stress, a jaw injury, or grinding teeth during sleep) may be relieved by treatment. If chronic muscle tension isn't treated, it may change the joint structure over time or lead to osteoarthritis.
TMDs caused by problems in the structure of the jaw joint may respond well to early treatment. They may get worse without treatment.
TMDs can affect the jaw and jaw joint as well as muscles in the face, shoulder, head, and neck. Common symptoms include joint pain in the face, muscle pain in the face, earaches, headaches, joint sounds, trouble with fully opening the mouth, and the jaw locking.
The focus of treatment is to ease pain in the jaw joint and restore jaw movement. Using techniques to relax your muscles and manage stress may also help, such as cognitive behavior therapy and acupuncture.
Dental splints may be used. Splints are often pieces of plastic that fit between the upper and lower teeth. They help protect the teeth from grinding and clenching.
Physical therapy can help if your symptoms are caused by tight muscles. Physical therapy can help you stretch and release tight muscles and scar tissue.
Your doctor may suggest medicines. In some cases, the doctor may inject numbing medicine into the spot that hurts.
Most people don't need dental work or surgery. Surgery may be used if you have structural problems in your jaw joint.
Dental splints are the most common dental treatment for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). These splints are used for short periods of time. They don't cause permanent changes in the teeth or jaw.
Dental splints, also called occlusal splints, include bite plates and mouth guards. They are custom-made by a dentist. They are typically made of clear plastic. They fit between and over the upper and lower teeth.
Dental splints can help ease muscle tension and stabilize the jaw. They do this by preventing grinding and clenching of the jaw (bruxism) that might be causing muscle tension and pain.
Splints are worn mostly at night. That's because people tend to clench or grind their teeth during sleep. It may not be easy to get used to wearing and caring for your splint, but it's an important treatment that may last for 3 months or more.
In cases of disc displacement and muscle spasm, you may be advised to wear a splint during the day and at night for about 2 weeks, and then only at night during times of stress and pain. This may allow a displaced disc to return to its normal position.
Many people who have TMDs find splint therapy helpful for treating pain and muscle tension.
Here are some ways you can reduce muscle tightness.
These may include taking slow, deep breaths and doing mindfulness meditation. Other practices, including progressive muscle relaxation, yoga, tai chi, and qi gong, may help.
Practice keeping your teeth apart. Bring them together only when swallowing or eating.
Avoid chewing gum, biting your nails, or resting your chin on your hand.
Try foods that are softer. Avoid hard or chewy foods, such as popcorn, apples, carrots, candy, hard breads, and bagels. Use both sides of your mouth to chew your food.
This means that your ears, shoulders, and hips are in a straight line. Better posture may reduce pain by restoring the natural alignment of your facial bones and muscles.
Your doctor may do a physical exam and ask questions about your health. An X-ray, CT scan, or MRI may also be done. These tests can help check for bone or soft tissue problems related to symptoms of a TMD.
Physical therapy:
Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) causes pain in the muscles and joints that connect the lower jawbone (mandible) to the skull. These flexible muscles and joints are right in front of the ears. They are needed to talk, chew, swallow, and yawn.
Pain and tension in the muscles around the TM joint can cause tension in the muscles of the face, head, neck, and shoulders. Muscle tension may also cause headaches.
Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are problems with jaw movement and pain in and around the jaw joints. This can cause pain when you talk, chew, swallow, yawn, or do other movements with your mouth or jaw. TMDs are also called TMJ or TM problems.
TMDs are caused by tight muscles, often triggered by stress. When you're stressed, you may be in the habit of clenching or grinding your teeth, chewing gum too often, or biting your nails. These habits can tire the jaw muscles and lead to a cycle of muscle spasms, tissue damage, pain, sore muscles, and more spasms.
TMDs can start when there's a problem with the joint itself, such as:
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:
Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:
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