Therapeutic, Corrective Care
It Affects More Than Your Mouth
If you are one of the millions of Americans suffering from chronic face or neck pain, recurring headaches or migraines, ringing in the ears, popping or clicking jaw sounds, muscle spasms, lockjaw, or even vertigo – you may have TMD (temporomandibular disorder).
This is a condition affecting the TMJ, or the joints responsible for connecting your lower jawbone to your skull that act similarly to hinges. Responsible for helping us chew, talk, yawn, and swallow, these joints are an important part of our everyday lives that often go unnoticed. However, to a person suffering from the symptoms of TMD, their presence is always known. General pain and discomfort can be temporary, ongoing, and affect one or both sides of the face. More common in women than men, TMD can arise at any time, but most frequently, it becomes a problem between the ages of 20 to 40.
Symptoms can include, but are not limited to:
- Pain in the jaw area
- Pain, ringing, or stuffiness in the ears
- Frequent headaches or neck aches
- Clicking or popping sounds when the jaw moves
- Swelling on the sides of the face
- Muscle spasms in the jaw area
- Locked jaw or limited opening of the mouth
- A change in the alignment of the top and bottom teeth
Even if you are not experiencing TMD symptoms, there are a simple steps you can take to prevent problems in the future such as:
- Avoid grinding your teeth and gum chewing
- Relax your face, and remember the rule: “Lips together, teeth apart!”
- Chew food evenly on both sides of your mouth
- Practice good posture with your head up, back straight, and shoulders squared.
