What Is the Main Cause of TMJ?

A sliding hinge connecting the jawbone to the skull is the temporomandibular joint. One joint exists on either side of your jaw and any disorders with this joint can cause your jaw joints to ache in the muscles that are controlling the movement of the jaw.

It is difficult to determine the precise reasons for a disorder of the TMJ. You could be suffering from pain because of a combination of factors which may include arthritis or injuries to the jaw. You may also experience painful conditions if you are grinding and clenching your teeth in a condition known as bruxism. It has however been noted that people with bruxism do not necessarily develop TMJ disorders.

The pain and discomfort with this condition are temporary and can be relieved with nonsurgical treatments and self-managed care. After all conservative methods have failed surgery may be considered as a last resort because many people benefit from surgical interventions.

TMJ symptoms may include:

 o   Tenderness or pain in the jaw.

 o   Pain in one or both the TMJ joints.

 o   Difficulty when chewing with pain.

 o   Aching facial pain.

When To Consider A Medical Visit?

You should be seeking medical attention for temporomandibular joint dysfunction if you have constant pain and tenderness in the jaw or are unable to open your mouth or chew. Your dentist or doctor can discuss the possible causes and TMJ treatment for the problem you are facing.

A combination of a hinge action with sliding motions are part of the temporomandibular joint and the parts of the bones interacting with the joint are encompassed with cartilage but are separated by a tiny shock-absorbing disk to generally keep the movement smooth. TMJ causes result in painful disorders when the disk erodes or shifts out off its proper alignment. Arthritis may also have damaged the joint along with any impact or a blow. In many cases however the primary reasons for this disorder are never identified.

You could be suffering from this problem if you are a victim of different types of arthritis, jaw injury, bruxism, and disease of the connective tissues.

The symptoms of this condition may disappear by themselves without treatment in many cases but if you continue to encounter the pain your doctor may recommend different treatment options often combining them to deliver effective results. The treatments may include medications, therapies, lifestyle and home remedies, or alternative medicine.