Are you experiencing Jaw Pain?

Have you ever woken up with a sore jaw? If you have, you know how uncomfortable any kind of jaw pain can be – leading to headaches, tenderness of the jaw, pain when chewing, and even pain around the ear. Although there are multiple things that can cause jaw or facial pain, Dr. Skrobanek can conduct a thorough exam to determine if you may be experiencing TMJ. If so, he can suggest TMJ treatment options to help get you out of pain.

More about Jaw Pain and Teeth Grinding from The ADA

What is TMJ?

According to Healthline, TMJ is affecting over 10 million Americans.

“TMD is also sometimes known as TMJ. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the joint that connects your mandible (lower jaw) to your skull. The joint can be found on both sides of your head in front of your ears. It allows your jaw to open and close, letting you to speak and eat.”

The causes of TMJ are often:

• Grinding and/or clenching of the teeth – putting excessive pressure on the joint
• Arthritis in the joint
• Stress – causing your muscles to tighten and clench
• Movement of the disc between the ball and the socket of the joint (a displaced disc)
• Injury to the jaw joint

Other factors can also cause jaw pain, but may not be TMJ:

• Cluster headaches
• Sinus issues
• Tooth pain
• Heart attack

Read more from Healthline: Jaw Pain: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments

If you are not experiencing pain or limited movement with your jaw clicking, you probably don’t need treatment for a TMJ disorder. However, if left untreated, the TMJ symptoms increase in number and severity as you get older.

Related Articles:

• Are You Clenching or Grinding Your Teeth While You Sleep?
• Jaw Conditions: TMJ Syndrome, Clenching, and Grinding
• Are You Experiencing Jaw Pain? You Could Have TMJ!

Symptoms Indicating a Serious Condition

In some cases, a jaw condition can be a serious condition that should be immediately evaluated in an emergency setting. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with, have any of these serious symptoms:

• Difficulty breathing
• Difficulty swallowing
• Painful chewing
• Locked jaw (unable to open or close)
• Numbness or tingling sensation
• Severe bleeding
• Stiffness, spasm

Related Article: What is a Dental Emergency and Why Dental Emergency Care is Important

TMJ Treatment Options and Jaw Pain Relief

For immediate relief of jaw pain, try moist heat or ice packs, over-the-counter pain relief medication, and gently massaging the sore area. To reduce stress on your body, and your mouth, you can also try some stress-relieving strategies, such as yoga, meditation, avoiding caffeine, and avoiding chewy foods.

For TMJ treatment, your first step is visiting the GPS Dental office and scheduling a consultation with Dr. Skrobanek. Oftentimes, by adjusting your bite (the way your teeth come together), many times we can properly align the teeth, muscles and jaws to be in the most comfortable positions. This alignment correction will often reduce or eliminate your TMJ symptoms.

Related Article: Are You Suffering from Jaw Pain?

Other medical treatment options may include:

• A mouth guard
• Botox injections
• Muscle relaxers
• Jaw surgery

Learn more about our services for jaw pain: Jaw Problems and TMJ Treatment in San Antonio

TMJ Treatment Options Available at GPS Dental

Diagnosis is an important step before treatment. Consult with Dr. Skrobanek, the dentist who treats TMJ disorders in the San Antonio area, to determine what type of jaw condition is causing you to suffer. Part of the dental examination includes checking the muscles and joints for clicking, popping, tenderness or difficulty moving.

It’s also important to stay up to date on your cleanings and routine visits to your dentist. In the meantime, having a strong and steady oral health routine – brushing twice a day and flossing once – is the best thing you can do for your oral health!

Dr. Gary P. Skrobanek and his experienced, friendly team at GPS Dental offer affordable family dentistry and gentle dental care in the San Antonio, TX area. Our Brooks City Base dentist office is conveniently located and offers early morning appointment times Monday through Friday to meet your needs. At GPS Dental, we provide most dental services, from family and general dentistry to dental implants, sleep apnea, TMJ / TMD Treatment, cosmetic dentistry and much more. We accept most dental insurance plans and offer affordable financial solutions for any budget. Call us at (210) 633-3477 to make an appointment.

Many people experience jaw pain, and sometimes this discomfort can be the result of a TMJ disorder. These are disorders that affect the temporomandibular joint, which is the joint that connects your jaw and skull. There can be many causes and symptoms of TMJ disorders and the best way to ensure you get proper treatment for your jaw pain is to schedule an appointment with your dentist. But if you’re experiencing jaw pain and want to know if it’s TMJ, here are some things to know.

 

Signs and Symptoms of TMJ Disorders

The standard symptoms of a TMJ disorder are muscle and jaw pain around the mouth, but it can also present with tenderness, pain in just one of the joints, aches, and pains around your ears, and generalized aching that affects the face. It may also hurt or be difficult to chew, and you may experience difficulty when you try to open and close your mouth. Another possible symptom is a clicking sound when you chew or open your mouth or a grating feeling when you perform these actions. Although TMJ disorders often cause aches, pains, and discomfort, it’s possible that you can have the clicking sound or grating feeling without any pain.

 

What Causes TMJ Disorders?

TMJ disorders are often caused by alignment problems that affect the jaws, muscles, and teeth, but they can also be caused by:

 

• Jaw injuries that impact the joint
• Habitual clenching or grinding of the teeth
• Arthritis that damages the joint’s cartilage
• Genetics

 

Your Dentist Can Help You Find the Right Solution

The causes of TMJ disorders are varied, and so too are the solutions available for them. For instance, if your jaw clicks or you feel a grating sensation when you open your mouth or chew but aren’t experiencing pain, then your TMJ may not require any treatment at all. On the other hand, if the pain is because of teeth grinding that’s being caused by stress, then the most effective treatment won’t be dentistry, but rather resolving the underlying stress. But when misaligned jaws or teeth cause TMJ disorders, the best solution is a dental bite adjustment that will correct the alignment of your mouth and reduce the symptoms you’re feeling. In the meantime, other things you can do to reduce your symptoms include:

• Taking over-the-counter pain medication
• Physical therapy to exercise your jaw joint and muscles
• Stretching and massaging your jaw
• Mouthguards to protect your teeth from grinding
• Hot or cold compresses
• Eating soft foods and solids that are cut up in small pieces

Related Article: Get Some Sleep: Custom Mouthguard for Sleep Apnea

TMJ disorders don’t always present the same way, and different causes lead to different symptoms. If you’re experiencing jaw pain or tenderness regularly, or can’t open and close your jaw normally, then schedule an appointment with Dr. Skrobanek at GPS Dental. He will be able to provide a diagnosis, narrow in on a cause, and determine the best course of action to treat your TMJ disorder. For more information about jaw problems like TMJ, visit our website today.

Related Article: What to look for in a Family Dentist in San Antonio

Dr. Gary P. Skrobanek’s experienced and friendly team at GPS Dental offers family dentistry for all ages in San Antonio, TX area. Our Brooks City Base dentist office is conveniently located and offers early morning appointment times Monday through Friday to meet your needs. At GPS Dental, we promote dental health awareness to our patients and provide most dental services, from family and general dentistry to dental implants, sleep apnea, TMJ / TMD Treatment, cosmetic dentistry and much more. We accept most dental insurance plans and offer affordable financial solutions for any budget. Call us at (210) 633-3477 to make an appointment.