What Causes TMJ?

Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ) causes jaw pain, stiffness, headaches, trouble opening your mouth, and other distressing symptoms. Your Fairfax, VA, orthodontic specialists, Dr. Nadia Sina, and Dr. Hilda Oweisy of My Braces Doctor can help you determine why you have TMJ pain and offer helpful treatments.

What is TMJ?

Hinge joints located just beneath your ears on either side of your face allow you to open and close your mouth and move it from side to side. If the bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, or discs in the joints become inflamed or misaligned, you may soon experience TMJ symptoms.

Symptoms of TMJ include

• Jaw locking
• Jaw muscle stiffness and spasms
• Pain in your jaw, ear, shoulder, neck, or upper back
• Pressure or ringing in your ears
• Headaches
• Popping or clicking sounds when opening or closing your mouth
• Trouble chewing
• Numbness or tingling in your jaw

What are common TMJ causes?

TMJ can be caused or worsened by:

• Bite problems or jaw misalignments
• Grinding or clenching your teeth while you sleep
• Arthritis
• Autoimmune diseases
• Stress
• Jaw injuries
• Chewing on pencils or hard objects frequently
• Poorly fitting dentures

In some cases, it's impossible to determine why you have TMJ.

How is TMJ treated?

Your dentist will discuss TMJ treatment options and pain management strategies with you during your visit to the Fairfax, VA, dental office. They may include:

• Wearing braces if you have a bite problem or a misaligned jaw
• Eating soft foods when you have a TMJ flare-up
• Reducing stress with exercise, yoga, meditation, and other activities
• Use a dental splint to improve jaw alignment and prevent grinding or clenching while you sleep
• Trying Botox injections to decrease tension in jaw muscles and reduce grinding
• Using heat or ice packs to reduce pain
• Massaging your jaw muscles
• Take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication to relieve pain and inflammation in your jaw joints.
• Use prescription muscle relaxants to relax your jaw muscles and ease spasms
• Performing gentle stretching exercises to ease tight jaw muscles

Don't let TMJ pain take over your life! Call your orthodontic specialists in Fairfax, VA, Dr. Sina, and Dr. Oweisy of My Braces Doctor, at (703) 877-0990 to schedule an appointment.