Temporomandibular joint syndrome is a disease that is caused by the swelling of the joint that connects the jaw to the skull. It causes difficulty in opening the mouth and moving the jaw. It is also often painful for them to do such. It also causes headaches, nausea and sometimes, infection of the mouth.
Treating this condition comes in many ways. Granting that it is caught early, the swelling can be corrected with jaw exercises or the use of a nighttime biofeedback headband. If the condition has progressed however, a long term treatment or an operation is needed. The importance of an early diagnosis cannot be stressed enough as it will determine what kind of treatment one will need to employ to alleviate his condition and knowing the different TMJ symptoms will help.
TMJ symptoms vary and some may be experienced by the patient while some are not. This is due to the fact that it can be caused by many things. A dental problem can cause the joint to swell acutely. Having unaligned teeth may cause your jaw to contract abnormally, causing more pressure to the jaw when it is opened and closed. Lack of overbites is another dental problem that can cause the condition.
The joint may also be swollen by using the jaw excessively. Excessive use of the jaw can range from persistent chewing of gum to widening of the mouth beyond its means. Bruxism, the clenching of one’s teeth unconsciously during his or her sleep, also stresses the jaw. Getting the jaw injured, or ‘trauma’, may be the cause for one’s joint to get swollen.
The following are the TMJ symptoms you should look out for: difficulty in biting, chewing and moving the mouth; clicking or popping sounds when moving mouth; earaches and headaches (specially in the morning); migraines, jaw pain and loss hearing. Tinnitus is also considered as a symptom of this disease. This is the hearing of sound absent an external source.
If you are suffering from the things we mentioned above, you should set an appointment with your doctor to make sure. A dentist can also treat the condition especially if the cause comes from a dental problem. Again, an early diagnosis is really important as it can help you avoid having to go through excruciating treatment.
Temporomandibular joint syndrome is a condition wherein the joint that connects the skull to the jaw becomes swollen. Treating it can be easy as doing morning exercises or complicated as having to go under operation. In order to avoid costly treatment, you have to recognize TMJ symptoms and catch it early on.
- Kevin Bates
