Temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD), also known as TMJ pain, is caused by a disorder in the temporomandibular joint, which is responsible for joining the jaw to the skull. This syndrome generates discomfort in the face and jaw region, persistent headache, crackles when opening the mouth and can even lead to the appearance of labyrinthitis and tinnitus.
Any problem that prevents the correct functioning of this joint can cause temporomandibular dysfunction, and one of the most common causes is to clench your teeth while sleeping, to have had a blow in the region or the habit of biting nails, for example.
The treatment for TMJ pain is done with the placement of a rigid plate that covers the teeth to sleep, and it is also important to perform physical therapy with postural reprogramming exercises.
Main symptoms
Symptoms that there is some involvement of the TMJ are:
- Headache when waking up or at the end of the day; Pain in the jaw and face when opening and closing the mouth, which gets worse when chewing; Feeling of tired face during the day; Not being able to open the mouth completely; Having one side of the face more swollen; worn teeth; deviation of the jaw to one side, when the individual opens his mouth; crackles when opening his mouth; having difficulty opening his mouth; dizziness; tinnitus.
All of these factors cause the joint to be affected and this causes pain, discomfort and cracking in the joint. TMJ pain can often cause headaches, in which case the pain is caused by constant stimulation of the face and chewing muscles.
What are the causes
The habit of grinding the teeth too much is instinctive when there is a feeling of anger or revolt, but it can be a nocturnal habit that the individual has and often does not even know. This habit is called Bruxism, and one of its signs is to have very worn teeth. Learn how to identify and treat bruxism.
But there are other causes for the onset of TMJ pain, such as incorrect chewing, having had a blow to the region, very crooked teeth that strain the muscles of the face, the habit of biting nails and biting the lips.
How to treat
To treat TMJ pain, physiotherapy sessions, massage to relax the muscles of the face and head and the use of an acrylic plate made by the dentist, for night use, are recommended.
The use of anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants can help during the acute phase of pain, to relieve symptoms. Learn more details about TMJ pain management.
