Facial Pain

There are lot of reasons for facial pain, most of them are because of our teeth; for example " TMJ " or the temporomandibular joint. It is the joint that connects your mandible (lower jaw) to your skull. It can be found on both sides of your head in front of your ears. It allows your jaw to move, enabling you to speak and eat. TMJ disorders cause lots of problems such as tenderness in the joint, facial pain and difficulty in moving the joint.

Causes of TMJ

• Arthritis that develops in the joint
• Erosion of the joint
• Habitual grinding or clenching of the teeth
• Structural problems present at birth

What are the symptoms of TMJ

The symptoms of TMJ disorders will depend on the severity and cause of the patient condition. Pain in the jaw and surrounding muscles is the most common symptom of TMJ. Other symptoms associated with these disorders include:

• Pain that can be felt in the face or neck
• Stiffness in the muscles of the jaw
• Limited movement of the jaw
• Locking of the jaw
• Clicking or popping sound from the jaw
• Shift in the jaw, changing the way that the upper and lower teeth align

If you felt any of these symptoms do not hesitate to contact your dentist to solve the problem

How Is TMJ Treated?

In most cases, the symptoms of TMJ disorders can be treated through self-care practices at home; for example you can:

• eat soft foods
• use ice to reduce swelling
• reduce jaw movements (such as chewing gum)
• reduce stress
• Clicking or popping sound from the jaw
• use jaw stretching exercises to help improve jaw movement If these cases persist or develops in a fast way you should consult your dentist!