Have you noticed that your teeth or jaw feel sore in the morning when you wake up, or that you have stiffness or limited range of motion in your mouth? If so, you might have a temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMD.
Patients unfamiliar with this condition might assume it’s not a big deal and doesn’t require treatment. However, if it goes unaddressed for too long, you might develop dental problems, chronic pain, or trouble eating and speaking normally. Continue reading to learn about 3 other myths about TMD you shouldn’t believe!
Myth #1: It Only Affects the Jaw
The temporomandibular joints anchor your jaw to your skull and are located just below each ear on the sides of your face. Under normal circumstances, they provide a full range of motion that allows the jaw to open and close, move forwards and back, and shift from side to side. But if they become inflamed or overworked, you can start to feel pain or stiffness that can affect more than just your jaw.
For example, this condition can often be caused by teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, which puts undue pressure on your teeth and jaw joints. But constantly clenching your arches together can also strain the muscles of your neck, shoulders, ears, and head, which can result in aches or inflammation in these areas.
Myth #2: It’s a Rare Condition
If you’re convinced that TMD is a rare condition, you might assume your jaw hurts for other reasons and avoid contacting your dentist for an appointment. Unfortunately, the truth is that sources estimate that roughly 5% to 12% of the population suffers from TMD at any time, meaning that it is believed to impact millions of people on a daily basis.
It’s more common among people who are between 20 and 40 years old, and studies have revealed that it affects women about 2 to 4 times as often as men. But it can affect people of any age, including young children and older adults.
Myth #3: It’s Only Temporary
You might not contact your dentist for TMD treatment if you assume the soreness or stiffness will simply fade on its own over time. However, for many patients, this condition only gets progressively worse the longer it goes unaddressed.
While it’s true that TMD can happen during periods of heightened stress and might therefore fade when things calm down, there’s no guarantee that your symptoms will eventually resolve themselves. In many cases, professional intervention is needed. Thankfully, many dentists offer treatment options, such as custom-fitted oral appliances, adjusting the biting surfaces of your teeth, or BOTOX® injections to help your jaw muscles relax to alleviate aches and provide your mouth with a wider range of motion.
If you’re unsure whether your jaw aches result from TMD, you can learn more by scheduling an appointment with your dentist!
Meet the Author
Dr. Tristan Parry is passionate about improving his patients’ quality of life by addressing causes and symptoms of sleep apnea and TMD. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery at The Ohio State University, where he also completed mini periodontics and mini pedodontics residencies. Today, he is a Master in the Academy of General Dentistry and remains committed to continuing education to offer the most up-to-date treatments, utilizing state-of-the-art technology to deliver more comfortable, accurate results. You can request an appointment on the website or by calling (336) 644-2770.