TMJ Symptoms - The Importance Of An Early Diagnosis
Temporomandibular joint disease is a condition wherein the joint that is responsible for connecting the skull to the jaw becomes inflamed. Sufferers of the disease find it difficult to move the jaw as well as open and close the mouth. Moving the jaw is often accompanied by pain. Patients may also experience headaches, nausea and may have an infection inside of the mouth.
There are many ways to treat this condition. Morning jaw exercises and using a nighttime biofeedback headband may be enough for cases that aren't too severe. If these aforementioned treatments would not suffice, the patient may need to undergo long term treatment or operation. As you can see, being able to diagnose the condition early is very important so one needs to know the various TMJ symptoms.
There are many TMJ symptoms but the thing is, not all of them may be present to a sufferer. The indications vary from patient to patient since the condition can be caused by many things. One of its causes can be a dental problem. Unaligned teeth causes the jaw to contract unusually, pressuring the joint when the mouth is moved. Lack of overbites is another dental problem that can cause the condition.
Another cause of this disease is the overuse of the jaw. Excessive use of the jaw can range from persistent chewing of gum to widening of the mouth beyond its means. Clenching the teeth unconsciously during sleep is another cause. An injury to the jaw may 'traumatize' the joint, causing to swell.
TMJ symptoms include: difficulty in biting or chewing, clicking or popping noises when opening or closing the mouth, earaches and headaches in the morning, hearing loss, migraines, pain in the jaw and reduced ability to open or close the mouth. Tinnitus is also seen as a symptom of this condition. This is the hearing of sound absent an external source.
If you are experiencing any of this, it's best to see a doctor soon. A dentist can also treat the condition especially if the cause comes from a dental problem. Again, it is real important for you to know early if you have it or not for it may require extreme measures for it to be cured if left ignored.
Temporomandibular joint syndrome causes pain in the jaw and difficulty in moving your mouth. It can be treated with simple exercises but if the case is too severe, the patient may need to go under the knife. An operation can be avoided by knowing TMJ symptoms and having an early diagnosis.
Published August 15th, 2011
Filed in Diseases And Conditions, Health, Medicine