How often do TMJs become worn down or damaged? Your TMJs, also called your temporomandibular joints, are joints in your jaw that play a key role in your mouth’s ability to open and close. Some signs that they may be damaged include abnormal popping noises from your jaw, the inability to have full movement when opening and closing your mouth, pain within your jaw or in and around your ears, and deep pain when speaking, chewing, or yawning.
If your TMJs have become damaged, here are some helpful guidelines that can lead to a successful recovery:
– Meditation techniques including yoga, calming music, and biofeedback are terrific stress relievers that can alleviate jaw pressure.
– Certain foods and various habits can harm your TMJs, including nail-biting, chewing gum, or rough or chewy foods such as steak.
– Your TMJ disorder could be caused by another underlying irregularity such as bruxism, which is a condition responsible for grinding or gnashing your teeth unconsciously, often while asleep.
– Joint pain accompanying TMJ disorders can be alleviated with heat or ice packs.
If you would like to know if your jaw and your TMJs are damaged, please book an oral exam with Dr. Vivian Hudson at our dentist office in Smyrna, Georgia, by calling us at 770-438-1520. Our team at Hudson Dental Care looks forward to bringing your smile back to its fullest.