TMJ disorders
TMJ or Temporomandibular Joint disorder can be a very painful syndrome that can cause you great discomfort. It is usually caused by the swelling or the partial dislocation of the Temporomandibular Joint. This joint can be found just below the ear, as it joins the lower jaw with the temporal bone connected to the skull. Every time you eat, drink, yawn, chew gum or even talk; this joint will move.
Thus if you are suffering from a TMJ disorder, then you will feel pain anytime that your jaw moves. Especially tasks like chewing gum and yawning will become impossible due to the pain. You may even feel ear pains causing you to think that you are suffering from an ear infection. Due to the excruciating pain, people suffering from TMJ syndrome may also have difficulties in opening their jaw fully. Also, their jaw may also slant to one side as a symptom of the syndrome.
It can be hard to diagnose TMJ disorder, as it can be confused with other disorders like ear infection or even infected gums. However, a qualified physician can easily make the diagnosis. Temporomandibular Joint disorder can be caused by variety of factors. One such factor includes things like micro trauma which is caused by things like grinding the teeth or clenching the jaw too often. Doing these activities too often may cause inflammation of the surrounding tissue near the Temporomandibular Joint. Even chewing gum too often or clenching and chewing on pens and pencils can also cause TMJ syndrome. Of course, this syndrome can be triggered after years of chewing, which may have weakened the surrounding area. However in some cases, major trauma like getting punched in the face or being involved in an accident can also cause TMJ disorder.
Once you have TMJ syndrome, it is not easy to get rid of. You can have various problems associated with the syndrome, as you may not be able to chew and eat comfortably. In mild cases, TMJ can be treated with lowering the pressure on the Temporomandibular Joint, by ceasing activities like chewing gum and eating soft foods. In many cases, compression with heat packs can also help reduce the swelling in the area. As the case becomes severe, your doctor may prescribe anti inflammatory drugs to contain the syndrome from progressing. In extreme cases where medication can not help, unfortunately surgery can become the only option. Thus it is easier to prevent TMJ syndrome, then to treat it. In order to prevent TMJ syndrome, you should not chew gum too often and you should prevent from yourself from clenching your jaw too often. In order to accomplish this, you may have to take anti stress measures in order to lower your stress which is the major cause for clenching.
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