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What causes TMJ disorders?
The exact cause of this is often difficult to pinpoint, but some factors include stress, arthritis, jaw injuries and genetics. There is also often a strong relationship between bruxism (excessive teeth grinding or jaw clenching) and TMJ syndrome. In some cases, a TMJ disorder causes bruxism; and in other cases, bruxism causes or worsens TMJ disorders.
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What are the symptoms of TMJ syndrome?
Facial pain and discomfort go hand-in-hand with TMJ syndrome. More specifically, the symptoms include pain or tenderness of your jaw, pain in one or both of the temporomandibular joints, an aching pain in and around your ear, difficulty or pain while chewing, and a locking of the joint which makes it difficult to open or close your mouth. Patients also often describe a clicking sound or grating sensation when opening their mouth or chewing.
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What are non-surgical treatments for bruxism?
Bruxism can often be managed with a change of lifestyle. This generally includes changing one’s night-time routine to ensure relaxation and proper winding down before sleeping and engaging in more stress-relieving activities during the day (such as exercise). The aim of this is to minimise tension before sleeping, as this is when the teeth grinding generally takes place.
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What will happen if bruxism goes untreated?
Over time, bruxism can destroy teeth, irritate gums and cause TMJ disorder. The damage done to the TMJ or the jaw by severe or long-term bruxism may require jaw surgery or corrective treatment from an OMS where restorative treatment is not enough.
