Are Your Habits Causing Your TMJ?

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The abbreviation of TMJ refers to the joint in your head that connects your jaw to your skull. Whenever you eat or speak, you use your TMJ in Beavercreek, OH to make fluid motions. When those motions stop being fluid, it’s a sign of TMD, or temporomandibular disorder. In some cases, TMJ is unavoidable, meaning it’s caused by arthritis, jaw dislocation, or genetics.

In others, though, it’s actually your habits that create the problem. If you’re self-diagnosing, we’ll look at the key lifestyle issues that contribute to the problem.

Key Habits that Lead to TMJ

If any of the following sound familiar, they may be the cause of your TMJ:

  • Clenching: Whether you’re clenching down on a pen cap or on your own teeth, the more you do, the more likely you’ll throw off the alignment of the joint.
  • Opening: Just like clenching, opening your mouth too wide or too often, whether from yawning or yelling, can have an adverse impact on the joint.
  • Posture: The more slouched you are, the more imbalanced your neck, jaw, and head will be.

Finding the Cause

In some cases, you can treat TMJ at home with nothing more than lifestyle changes. You might treat the initial discomfort with cold compresses and Tylenol, and then work on your stress levels so you’re not grinding your teeth at night. Or you can reduce or eliminate foods that cause undue compression on your jaw, like nuts or steak, to see if that makes a difference.

If changing your lifestyle habits doesn’t make a difference to your TMJ, you may need to see a dentist in Beavercreek who can help you treat the issue. At Keep Smiling, our team is here to help!

What Can I Do for My TMJ?

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TMJ is a relatively common condition in the US, but it’s not always well understood by the average person. Most people may know it as a problem with the jaw, but they may not even recognize the basic symptoms, let alone know how to treat it. Below, we’ll look at a few ways to tackle the problem, particularly if you’ve been living with TMJ pain in Beavercreek, OH for over a few weeks.

What Is TMJ?

TMJ refers to the actual joints that are located on both sides of your head. When it’s used in everyday conversation, it typically refers to a temporomandibular disorder, known in professional circles as TMD. If you damage the joint, whether it’s from injury, teeth misalignment, arthritis, or teeth grinding, you may experience swelling, clicking sounds when you open or close your mouth, or pressure behind your eyes.

Can I Treat TMJ?

In some cases, TMJ just goes away on its own. If you’re grinding your teeth at night due to a major deadline, you might find that your TMJ resolves itself as soon as the immediate pressure passes. In the meantime, you can control the discomfort with anything from over-the-counter pain relievers to hot/cold packs on the swollen areas. However, a dentist in Beavercreek, OH would tell you that if you’ve been experiencing severe pain or the pain doesn’t go away for a few days, it may be time to seek professional help.

Dentists in Beavercreek, OH

When TMJ has several causes, it helps to narrow down the suspects. If you’re interested in learning more about what you can do, the team at Keep Smiling Dental is here to help you settle on the best oral health plan for you.

Botox for TMJ

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Temporomandibular joint dysfunction, also known as TMD, causes facial and jaw pain that can be difficult to live with. It can cause headaches and even lead to cracked teeth and other dental issues.

At Keep Smiling Dental in Beavercreek, OH, we can help you address problems with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) using Botox, which can help reduce pain and help you feel better.

What Is TMJ?

The temporomandibular joints, referred to as TMJ, are two joints connecting the skull and lower jaw. These joints are near each ear and must rotate and slide to accommodate motion when you chew or speak.

The problem with the joints is that they are complex. If they’re in alignment, everything is fine. However, if they pop out of alignment, they can cause chronic facial pain, degenerate due to rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis, or become displaced or dislocated.

How Can You Treat TMJ Using Botox?

TMJ can be a debilitating condition, but Botox can help. Botox works by paralyzing targeted facial muscles temporarily. For TMJ, the injections help reduce the intensity of muscle contractions, allowing the jaw to relax and recover.

Botox has no downtime, and it typically lasts three to four months.

Get Brilliant Teeth With Keep Smiling Dentistry

At Keep Smiling Dentistry in Beavercreek, OH, we understand how painful and frustrating living with TMJ can be. Fortunately, Botox is a quick and simple treatment option that may be able to help you reduce the symptoms and dysfunction linked to this condition.

Call us today at our Indian Ripple or Lakeview locations at 1-937-426-5340 to speak with us about undergoing the Botox procedure and if it could be right for you.