Things you need to know about jaw pain

Temperomandibular joint (TMJ) is the hinge that connects your jaw to the skull in front of  each ear. When the TMJ is injured, your jaw muscles and nerves are affected, and it causes TMJ syndrome. The early symptoms are pain while chewing, clicking, nerve inflammation and swelling on both sides of face.

 Who are at risk of TMJ?

• Women between ages of 18 and 44
• Excessively stressed individuals with jaw clenching and muscle tension.
• Patients suffering from painful musculoskeletal conditions and chronic inflammatory conditions.
• People suffering from jaw trauma or those with poorly aligned teeth.
• Individuals genetically prone to high levels of stress and pain sensitivity.  
• Individuals with poor posture in upper back muscles and neck, neck strain and weakened jaw muscle movement.

Symptoms of TMJ:

• Shoulder pain
• Blurred vision
• Headache
• Facial pain on chin or cheek
• Ear pain or sounds
• Pain in jaw

Cause of TMJ pain:

It is difficult to predict the medical conditions that could cause TMJ, as there are many factors that could cause jaw pain like jaw injury or arthritis. A person who is prone to grinding or clenching teeth is likely to suffer from TMJ, but in many cases it is a habitual behavior.

A medical condition with symptoms similar to TMJ syndrome is trigeminal neuralgia, and it is caused when there is an irritation on trigeminal nerve that supplies impulses to TMJ. The main symptom is facial pain. The other factors that could cause neck or face pain is salivary gland disease, ill-fitting dental braces or dentures, sore throat.

For further information on dental care contact  Green Meadow Dental, 3579 B Berlin Turnpike, Newington CT 06111.