TMJ is joint disorder of the jaw that causes bite abnormalities. Causes of TMJ may include anxiety, tooth grinding, jaw clenching, and advancing age. Fortunately, your dentist can recommend a number of effective TMJ pain treatments in Madison, WI, that can help manage your condition. Here are some symptoms and treatments for TMJ that you should know about.
TMJ Symptoms
Symptoms of TMJ include severe jaw pain, facial pain, jaw clicking when opening and closing your mouth, headaches, and worn down teeth. It may also cause limited mobility of the jaw, earaches, tinnitus, and jaw locking. Some people experience shooting nerve pain in the face and chewing problems. It is important to seek TMJ pain treatment in Madison, WI, as soon as possible because if you are unable to chew your food properly, you may be at risk for nutritional deficiencies.
TMJ Treatments
Your TMJ treatment will be based on the severity of your condition, your age, and medical history. Conservative treatment options may include simply resting your jaw, managing your stress levels to help reduce jaw clenching, ice packs, heat treatments, and pain medications.
Mouth guards may also be effective because they help prevent tooth grinding during sleep. If you have severe TMJ, your dentist or orthodontist may recommend x-rays to evaluate your bone density and to determine if your jaw joints are damaged as a result of a degenerative joint disease such as osteoarthritis.
To find out more about TMJ treatments, call TMJ and Sleep Center or stop by the website at Tmjpaincenter.com.