Jaw Joint Pain
Key points
- Jaw-joint pain when chewing is a symptom of Temporo-Mandibular Disorder (TMD) or more commonly called TMJ Syndrome.
- Jaw-joint pain in the morning is a sign that you're grinding and clenching your teeth during the night.
- Most common in women between the ages of 25 and 40, TMJ can be caused by a bad bite, misaligned teeth, missing teeth, arthritis or emotional stress.
- Have a complete diagnosis of the problem by your dentist or by a dentist who focuses on this disorder (there is no official specialty in dentistry for TMJ problems).
When Chewing
Jaw-joint pain when chewing is a symptom of Temporo-Mandibular Disorder (TMD) or more commonly called TMJ Syndrome. Most common in women between the ages of 25 and 40, TMJ can be caused by a bad bite, misaligned teeth, missing teeth, arthritis or emotional stress.
Treatment:
Have a complete diagnosis of the problem by your dentist or by a dentist who focuses on this disorder (there is no official specialty in dentistry for TMJ problems). A wide range of treatments is available.
After Sleeping
Jaw-joint pain in the morning is a sign that you're grinding and clenching your teeth during the night. This is one of the causes of Temporo-Mandibular Disorder (TMD), more commonly called TMJ Syndrome. Most common in women between the ages of 25 and 40, this grinding can be caused by a bad bite, misaligned teeth, missing teeth, arthritis or emotional stress.
Treatment:
Have a complete diagnosis by your dentist or by a dentist who focuses on this disorder (there is no official specialty in dentistry for TMJ problems). A wide range of treatments options are available. A nightguard, which is a splint worn on the upper or lower teeth during the night, is a logical treatment.
Constant TMJ Pain
Jaw-joint pain when chewing is a symptom of Temporo-Mandibular Disorder (TMD) or more commonly called TMJ Syndrome. Most common in women between the ages of 25 and 40, TMJ can be caused by a bad bite, misaligned teeth, missing teeth, arthritis or emotional stress.
Treatment:
Have a complete diagnosis of the problem by your dentist or by a dentist who focuses on this disorder (there is no official specialty in dentistry for TMJ problems). A wide range of treatments is available.
Source: Your Health Encyclopedia, 4-rd Edition, 2002
Written and revised by
David Cohen, M.D.
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