Do you suffer from chronic and frequent headaches or neck aches? A possible cause might be Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD).
Today, we are going to cover the symptoms of TMD and what causes it. Plus, some ways that you can prevent TMD from occurring. If you need treatment, our experienced team at the Shawn B. Davis, DMD, Oral & Facial Surgery Institute can help you. Contact us today for more information.
What is TMD?
TMD often appears in the form of recurring headaches. This is because your temporomandibular joints (TMJ) that connect your jaw and skull are being overworked. This can be painful and might restrict the range of motion your jaw has.
There are many symptoms of TMD. However, it can be easily recognized if you often experience pain in your jaw and have frequent headaches or pains in your neck. TMD can even affect your ears, making them ring or feel stuffy.
If you experience a locked jaw or are having trouble opening your mouth, be sure to contact us right away. We can get you started on treatment as soon as you are available. If your jaw is locking up, you do not want to put off scheduling an appointment.
How does TMD Cause Headaches?
When the muscles of the TMJ become tense, they can cause pain to more muscles around them. The pain often spreads to the side of your head- causing headaches. This type of headache can be hard to pinpoint as the culprit.
This is because a TMJ caused headache will often spread over your head and face, making it difficult to distinguish it from tension headaches. If you suspect your jaw is causing you pain, then you can make a few changes to prevent it from happening so often.
How to Avoid TMD
You can do this right now at home, simply focus on relaxing your face. The tension in your jaw is what causes TMD pain, so checking in on yourself to see if you are clenching your jaw during the day is a great start.
You will also want to avoid eating hard foods and chewing gum. Aside from that, always practicing good posture helps release tension from your body. If you grind your teeth at night, this can also cause pain and headaches.
How is TMD Treated?
We have many options for non-surgical treatment. However, if you do not respond to those methods, we can perform oral surgery. This involves either arthroscopy or direct jaw surgery. Keep in mind that we will attempt to treat your TMD with non-surgical methods first.
Conclusion
If you suffer from chronic headaches and are having trouble figuring out why TMD might be the problem. Be sure to relax your mouth if you feel that your jaw is clenched. Doing this can help prevent TMD and the headaches that come with it.
Be sure to contact our office at the Oral & Facial Surgery Institute if you can not get relief from jaw pain by yourself. We can let you know what treatment options are available to you.