TMJ/TMD

Millions of Americans suffer from chronic facial and neck pain as well as recurrent headaches. In some cases this pain is due to Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, or TMJD.

Your temporomandibular joints, or jaw joints, connect your lower jaw to your skull. This joint is unique and different than the other joints in our bodies. Doctors have learned a great deal about the function of our TMJ which helps us make our patients suffering from TMJD more comfortable.

As you may imagine, your TMJ’s get quite a lot of use throughout your life as you speak, chew and swallow. Very few cause and effect relationships have been proven in true TMJD, which makes it difficult to treat. In the majority of cases true TMJD is caused by a previous trauma incident, like a fall or other accident involving your face, head or neck. There are also certain face shapes and profiles that have a higher incidence of TMJD and more females have this disorder than males. The symptoms of TMJD usually come and go, which makes treatment difficult, and there is no guaranteed best way to manage the symptoms because of the differences between patients.

Some Symptoms of TMJD include:

• Pain or swelling in the sides of the face just in front of your ears
• Pain, ringing, or stuffiness in the ears
• Frequent headaches or neck aches
• Clicking or popping sound when the jaw chewing or talking
• Muscle spasms in the lower jaw area
• Limited opening of the mouth
• Feeling like you are not able to close your mouth completely

Should you notice any of these symptoms, let Dr. Crawford know! She may be able to help advise you as to whether they indicate the presence of TMJD, and what sort of treatment may be appropriate for you. Depending on your situation, Dr. Crawford may be able to custom-create an appliance that will help reduce your TMJD symptoms.

Tips for healthy temporomandibular joints:

• Relax your face – remember the rule: “Lips together, teeth apart”
• Avoid grinding and clenching your teeth
• Avoid gum chewing, chewing ice or anything else very hard, brittle or sticky
• Don’t cradle your telephone between your head and shoulder – either use a headset or hold the receiver to your ear
• Chew food evenly on both sides of your mouth
• Do not purposefully ‘pop’ your jaw joints (or any other joint for that matter)
• Do not sit with your chin rested on your hand
• Practice good posture – keep your head up, back straight, and shoulders squared