Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), also known as jaw disorder commonly, is a medical disorder where the jaw joint pains badly. The joint that pains are responsible for connecting your jawbone to your skull. It usually happens to people who have the habit of grinding teeth. It can cause a lot of pain in the jaw when chewing food or speaking. Do you want to know the symptoms and causes of this disorder? We have shared it all below!
Symptoms of Jaw Disorder
To find out whether you are suffering from TMD, you need to look for symptoms like:
- Slight tenderness or pain in the jaw
- Pain in temporomandibular joints of the lower skull
- Pain in different facial joints
- Pain inside or around the ear.
- Difficulty in moving the mouth while speaking or eating
- A clicking sound of the joints while opening the mouth
- A grating sensation when opening and closing the mouth
Causes of Jaw Disorder
As said earlier, jaw disorder mostly happens if you grind your teeth continuously on a regular basis. This causes pain and discomfort in the jaw, giving rise to TMD in the future. Besides grinding of teeth, there are other reasons as well:
- If the jaw disk has moved from its place
- If the jaw disk has eroded
- If the cartilage of the joint is damaged due to arthritis
- If the jaw joint or bone gets hurt due to a blow or some other unforeseen circumstances
Risk Factors Associated With Jaw Disorder
Uncured TMD can cause several risk factors, a few of which are mentioned below:
- The patient can face complications like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
- TMD for a prolonged time can also injure the jaw badly
- It can increase one’s urge to clench or grind teeth, worsening the condition
- It can also cause health issues to the connective tissues of the lower portion of the mouth
When to Visit a Dentist?
People often think that jaw disorders will get cured over time with the help of painkillers, but that’s not true. If left uncured for a long time, a lot of other oral problems are on the way. Hence, if you see that your jaw is paining or is tender for more than a week, it’s time to get in touch with your dentist. They will help you with the best treatments like wearing a plastic tool while sleeping, medications, biofeedback, and so on.
Get expert treatment for jaw disorders from Dr. Jeanne V. Devi, DDS, and her team of dental assistants. Call us at (626) 795-2544 or visit our website for more details. We are located at 595 E Colorado Blvd Suite 603, Pasadena, CA 91101.
