TMJ is a common issue that affects more than 10 million people. Of those, women are more likely to experience issues than men. It might start out as something as simple as a minor neck pain or even stiff jaw muscles but can quickly turn into a debilitating issue. Here are some symptoms to watch out for and what to do when you start experiencing any of these symptoms.
TMJ is short for temporomandibular joint and can range from very minor pain to severe pain. When TMJ disorders are minor, patients will generally have a shooting pain in their jaw every time they bite down. In serious cases, a patient’s jaw can lock up, and they won’t be able to open their mouth more than 10 millimeters. Normally, a person should be able to open their jaw up to 50 millimeters. A locked jaw makes it nearly impossible to talk and consume food.
It is important to be aware of the symptoms because they can often start as minor neck aches and headaches. Some other minor symptoms can also be ringing in the ears, which most people would immediately think of as an ear infection. Any time you hear popping or clicking noises in your jaw, you should take note of that as well as that could also lead to severe TMJ issues. With those minor symptoms, many people will consult their primary care doctor, but these symptoms should always be shared with your General Dentist in New Brunswick, NJ.
Other times TMJ issues become noticeable is if there are any kind of change in your bite patterns or jaw closing. What can often happen is the disc in your jaw joint can slip out of its socket while you are sleeping.
When you are visiting your General Dentist in New Brunswick, NJ and those symptoms are mentioned, the dentist will ask more about your medical history and look deeper into your dental history. Once they have that information, they’ll do a very thorough examination of your head, face, jaw and teeth. After that, they should also examine your neck.
Even if your headaches and neck aches seem minor, it’s always worth mentioning to your dentist to be safe. For more details, contact Livy Dental.
