Saturday, 8 March 2014

The Signs And Symptoms And Management Of Temporomendibular Joint Disorder

By Jamal D White


Temporomendibular joint is the hinge joint, which connects the lower mandible to the temporal bone of the skull. This joint is flexible as it allows the jaw to be able to move smoothly side to side and up and down; thus making it easier to chew, yawn and talk. Temporomandibular joint disorder is usually due to problems with this joint and the surrounding facial muscles that control the moving of the jaw and chewing. It is important to know the symptoms and the treatment of this disorder in order to know what to do if you have such a condition.

Pain and tenderness on the face is one of the main symptoms of tmj. Pain may also be experience in the neck and shoulders, the jaw joint area and around the ear especially as you open your mouth to either chew or speak. When you are suffering from this condition, opening the mouth becomes a great problem.

As you open or close your mouth, you are likely to hear some grating, clicking or popping sounds in the jaw joint. In addition, your jaws can easily lock or get stuck either when you mouth is in open or closed position. Chewing also becomes unbearable owing to the pain as you open or close your mouth.

Another common characteristic of bruxism may be the swelling of the face. You might have the entire face inflamed or even the side, which has the joint problem. You may even notice a tired feeling in your face as if something just ran you over.

You will find a number of other tmj symptoms although there are the most typical ones. Immediately you find out that you have temporomendibular joint disorder, you should look for the right treatment. Among the simplest methods for treating this condition is to consume soft meals that do not require an excessive amount of eating which will not put lots of stress on the joint. If possible, ensure that you simply eat small pieces of food to make it easier on you when chewing.

Ice packs are also very useful in treating tmj. Moist heat is also good at treating tmj. You simply place the moist heat at the temple or the side of your face, and this reduces the tension in this area. It is advisable that when you are done applying the moist heat that you do some stretching exercises in order to get better. One such exercise is the pulling of the jaw slowly with the use of your hands. Your dentist can also recommend other exercises that you may need to do in order to get better.

The use of splints is also a common way of treating tmj. Splits are appropriate as they prevent the lower and upper teeth from coming together; thus, making it hard for you to clench or grind your teeth. These devices are useful as they take pressure off the muscles and the jaw joints thus ensuring the jaws are relaxed and they can heal.

When you are away of temporomendibular joint disorder symptoms, you are able to take the necessary treatment. It also becomes easier to manage the condition before it gets out of hand. The treatments for the disorder are also different depending on how severe the condition is.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment