At Sleep Apnea & TMJ Solutions in Brentwood and Murfreesboro TN, we know how disconcerting sudden jaw pain can be. This is especially true if you eat healthy and adhere to a consistent dental health routine, as it can be hard to ascertain the cause of this pain when you’ve ruled out things like tooth decay and infection.
Have you considered you might be suffering from TMJ/TMD? IF you’ve never heard of this condition, we encourage you to read our previous blog posts about it. However, in order to make things easier for our readers, our team have put together a small primer on what TMJ/TMD is, and how we can help you treat it. If you already know this stuff, then consider it a refresher course!
What is TMJ/TMD?
TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint, and TMD stands for temporomandibular joint disorder. Both terms are used interchangeably to refer to a condition that affects this joint. And, you guessed it, the joint is located in the jaw. It acts as a sliding hinge connecting your jaw bone to your skull. Due to trauma, tooth grinding, or genetics, this joint can stop functioning properly.
Think of a poorly lubricated door hinge; it is noisy, the metal grinds against itself, and it is more susceptible to rust. That’s essentially what TMJ/TMD can do to your smile. When the hinge encounters too much friction and your jaw bone grinds against your lower skull, it can cause tension headaches, jaw pain, gum pain, and even eventual tooth decay.
What Can You Do About It?
Cold and warm compresses can help alleviate pain, as can over-the-counter medication. However, the surefire way to manage – and hopefully eliminate – this condition is to visit Sleep Apnea & TMJ Solutions in Brentwood and Murfreesboro TN. We offer TMJ/TMD treatment, ranging from minor alterations to lifestyle to oral appliance therapy. Whatever the cause of your TMJ/TMD, we can find a solution for it. Contact us today!
Contact Sleep Apnea & TMJ Solutions:
615-850-8445
Location (Tap To Open In Google Maps):
1177 Old Hickory Blvd, Suite 203
Brentwood, TN 370271605 Medical Center Pkwy, Suite 215
Murfreesboro, TN 37129
