At best, the persistent feeling of your jaw popping when you open and close your mouth can be pretty annoying. At worst, it can be painful, and can grow increasingly worse until you diagnose and treat the problem. The sensation originates with the joints on which your lower jaw moves, called the temporomandibular joints (TMJs). When something is wrong with them, you may suffer from TMJ disorder, which describes damaged jaw joints that could lead to wide and diverse range of discomfort.
What to Know About Jaw Trouble
- TMJ disorder is often difficult to diagnose, and one of the reasons is because there are actually several different kinds of TMJ disorder. If any condition causes your jaw joints to become damaged, inflamed, forced out of alignment, or are otherwise injured, then the resulting condition may be a form of TMJ disorder.
- While there are several different possible contributors to TMJ disorder, chronic stress is one of the more common. When you’re consistently stressed out, your muscles can remain tense, including those in your jaw. The prolonged tension can lead to joint damage and/or exhaustion, and you may soon begin developing telltale symptoms, such as popping/clicking jaw joints.
- Like its causes, symptoms of TMJ disorder can also be confusingly diverse. Besides the discomfort of a popping/clicking jaw, you might also experience recurring muscle pain in your jaws and face, persistent and severe headaches (including migraines), and discomfort and ringing in your ears.
- In addition to stress, several dental health issues can also be a risk factor for TMJ disorder. For instance, if your teeth are crooked, then your bite may be imbalanced, and your jaw joints will have to strain to compensate for it. If you habitually grind your teeth (bruxism), then the continuous stress, pressure, and friction can also cause excessive strain and eventual TMJ damage.
ABOUT YOUR GARLAND DENTISTS:
At DentaCare Dental in Garland, we focus on advanced technology, education, and comfort to offer every patient a pleasant experience and excellent dental care. To schedule a consultation, call our Garland, TX office today at (903) 758-5921. For optimal convenience, we also serve patients at our various other locations in Tyler, Longview, and Arlington, TX, as well as Bossier City, LA.