Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ) affect the temporomandibular joint’s jaw muscles, joints, and ligaments. The TMJ Dundalk is a hinge joint between the lower jaw and the skull. The most common type of TMJ disorder is the “gliding” or “hinge” jaw, which involves stiffness and pain in the front of the jaw. This type of TMJ disorder causes clicking sounds when you chew, open and close your mouth, or move your head from side to side. Other types of TMJ disorders include “locking” and “pinching” jaws, where one side of your face has more pain than the other side.
Below are the symptoms and the risk factors of TMJ disorders.
What are the symptoms of TMJ disorders?
- Difficulty chewing
- Jaw pain
- Jaw clicking or popping during chewing
- Jaw bone tenderness
- Jaw joint swelling or stiffness
What are the risk factors for TMJ disorders?
Jaw injuries
The most common risk factor for TMJ disorders is a jaw injury. Sports and recreation activities are estimated to cause up to 80% of all TMJ injuries. The most common cause of a jaw injury is a direct blow to the face with a fist or elbow or a direct blow to the nose, lip, or teeth. However, other factors, such as poor posture, grinding teeth, and clenching teeth, can also contribute to TMJ disorders.
Smoking
Smoking is a major risk factor for TMJ disorders, as well as for other oral health problems. Smoking damages the mouth’s soft tissues, including the bones and muscles that support the jaw. As a result, smokers have a greater chance than non-smokers of developing TMJ disorders such as pain and clicking noises in the jaw.
Smoking also affects the way the teeth look by causing gum disease, which causes bad breath, tooth loss, and tooth decay. In addition, smoking leads to poor nutrition because it makes you lose weight. This is because it decreases your appetite and slows down your metabolism.
Stress
Stress can cause several health problems, including TMJ disorders. Stress triggers the body to produce hormones that can cause damage or increase inflammation. Chronic stress also makes it harder to relax and sleep, which can lead to TMJ disorders.
Obesity
Obesity increases pressure on the jaw joint, leading to TMJ disorders if you are overweight or obese and have high blood pressure or diabetes mellitus. Being overweight also increases your risk for gum disease and tooth decay.
Arthritis
The most common risk factor for TMJ disorders is arthritis. The joints of the jaw are extremely sensitive to changes in temperature and pressure, which can lead to pain and inflammation. If you have arthritis, you may experience symptoms like swelling, tenderness, and pain in your joints and muscles. In addition, many different types of joint diseases can cause TMJ disorders. Some forms of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, can also lead to TMJ disorders.
If you have a jaw disorder, it can be quite painful. In addition, the condition can lead to other health problems. If you are experiencing the signs of TMJ disorders, seek immediate medical attention from CHOICE Pain & Rehabilitation Center.
