Do you often wake up with headaches or pain in your jaw? Does your jaw feel stiff or can you hear clicking noises when you open and close your mouth? If so, you may have TMJ disorder, also known as temporomandibular joint disorder or TMD. If you’re having troubles with a sore jaw, we can help.

What causes TMJ disorder?

TMJ disorder is an umbrella term, which is used to describe symptoms that affect the temporomandibular joint. This joint is a very active joint, which has a number of important functions, including opening the mouth. The joint connects the lower jaw to the skull and if you put your fingertips on your cheek by your earlobes and open your mouth, you’ll feel the joint in action. There are various possible causes of TMJ disorder, including

• Accidents and dental injuries
• Bruxism (tooth grinding)
• Orthodontic issues
• Loose fillings or crowns

Bruxism is a very common cause of TMJ disorder. Thankfully, we have some effective remedies that we can employ to prevent contact between the teeth during sleep. When you grind your teeth, this can damage your enamel, but it can also increase tension in the muscles surrounding the jaw, and this is why you experience pain and stiffness.

How we can help

If TMJ disorder is linked to bruxism or dental issues, such as loose crowns or orthodontic problems, we can provide a solution. We can carry out necessary dental work and we can also supply patients with a custom-fit bite guard, which protects the teeth and prevents clashing while you sleep. The bite guard is designed for you and you’ll be able to doze off without worrying about discomfort or waking up with headaches or jaw pain.

If you’ve got a sore jaw, your jaw is stiff, you can hear unusual noises when you move your mouth or you suffer from headaches or pains in the neck or shoulders, call us now!