Pain in your jaw is nothing to ignore. Many people suffer from a painful TMJ condition, which is caused by inflammation of the jaw muscles. Patients report feeling the most pain upon waking up in the morning. Most of the pain stems from muscle spasms, but only a Dentist Plymouth MI can correctly identify the source.
The jaw joint is called the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). It connects the lower jaw to the base of the skull. The jaw is the most used joint in the entire body. It is almost constantly in use from chewing and speaking. Some people, however, put the muscles around the jaw under even more stress by grinding or clenching their teeth. This mainly happens while a person is asleep, so they are often completely unaware of the problem. They wake up in the morning in excruciating pain, and the range of motion of their jaw may be limited. Clicking or popping when opening the mouth is also common. This disorder is clinically known as TMJ.
While a dentist cannot fix a damaged jaw, they may help a patient treat this disorder with conservative methods. When a person comes to a dental clinic complaining of jaw pain, the dentist will examine the mouth for signs of tooth wear. This is often a sign of grinding. TMJ is most commonly treated with a custom made bite-guard that is worn on the teeth at night. This prevents the patient from being able to grind or clench their teeth subconsciously in their sleep. Muscle relaxers may also be prescribed to help loosen up spasming muscles. Most patients begin to see relief after a few weeks, but they must continue to wear their bite-guard even when the pain subsides. Not only does it prevent the pain from returning, but it also protects the teeth from cracking or wearing down from the grinding.
If left untreated, the pain will only get worse. Patients may have difficulty chewing and speaking due to the discomfort. Anyone who finds themselves with chronic jaw pain should seek the medical help of a Dentist Plymouth MI. Once the problem is correctly diagnosed, the patient can get on the track to recovery.
