TMJ disorders, which stands for Temporomandibular Joint disorders, are one of the most common and potentially painful conditions you may experience. Unfortunately, TMJ could lower your quality of life by affecting your diet and making it difficult to talk. The chronic pain may also keep you up at night and cause other issues. Fortunately, you can work with dental offices to potentially resolve this issue. Curious about what causes TMJ disorders? Read on!
A Quick Introduction to TMJ Disorders
The temporomandibular joints allow you to move your jaw back and forth as well as up and down and side to side. This is an incredible range of motion for a joint and your temporomandibular joints are perhaps the most complex joint in your body. Unfortunately, this complexity might make it a bit easier to damage the joints, which can result in a TMJ disorder.
A TMJ disorder refers to pain and tenderness in the jaw’s joints. It’s quite possible that you’ll experience swelling, and the pain may sharpen when you try to eat or talk. You may start avoiding certain foods and holding fewer conversations, which can obviously be detrimental to your quality of life.
Fortunately, TMJ disorders are often treatable. You can also take steps to prevent the disorder. If you need tips or help, it’s smart to stop by dental offices to speak with an oral health expert. Sometimes, TMJ disorders won’t heal completely without intervention.
The Causes of TMJ Disorders
Many different things can cause TMJ disorders. You may have collided with someone while playing sports or you could have injured your jaw during a car accident. Simple stress can also contribute to your disorder.
Other common causes of TMJ disorders include teeth grinding (which is also known as bruxism), malocclusion (meaning your teeth don’t really fit together), and simple wear and tear. Especially as you get older, you could start to suffer from arthritis in the jaw joints. Poor posture and using the wrong pillow could also contribute to your TMJ. Also, you should avoid using your teeth as a tool, such as tearing open a package.
Simple things like chewing on your pen or excessively eating hard foods can wear your joints down. Ultimately, according to Brain Tracy International, you’ll use twelve different muscles to smile and over 110 muscles to frown. Any issues with your muscles could result in a TMJ disorder.
Need assistance with a TMJ disorder? Finding yourself in pain? Looking for dental offices? Contact us today at Bright Side Dental!