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A quick quiz: which joint in the body is used more than any other? Answer: the jaw bone. As you know, most people flap their jaws all day – talking, eating, biting, chewing, gritting their teeth – all make use of the joint that most of us call the jaw. Doctors call this joint the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ
You can locate the temporomandibular joint by placing your finger on that triangle of skin in the front of your ear and then moving it a bit forward. You should be able to feel a small depression between bones there. Now open and close your mouth a few times to feel the motion of the joint. If this hurts, you most likely have TMJ dysfunction.
Causes
TMJ dysfunction is caused primarily in two ways: overuse of the joint, and favoring one side of the mouth when chewing and biting down. Overuse usually applies to clenchers and grinders – people who tend to clench their jaws tightly together for a variety reason, primarily stress. Some peopleclench and grind their teeth while sleeping and are totally unaware of the behavior. Gum chewers, who constantly work the joint, tend to be susceptible to TMJ dysfunction. By chewing on only one side of the mouth, undue stress is put on that side’s temporomandibular joint. This does not allow for even distribution of force applied to the joint and pain will eventually develop. The same happens to people who have “improper bites,: meaning their teeth do not fit together correctly causing one side of the mouth to close first when biting down and chewing.
What you can Do
Luckily there are a few things you can do to alleviate the pain of TMJ.
- To reduce the amount of wear and injury to the joint, chew evenly (left vs. right)
- Stop chewing gum
- Avoid hard chewy foods
- Stop clenching, gritting, or grinding your teeth.
- Exercise the joint to redirect the forces of wear to a healthier spot by bringing your lover teeth out in front of the upper teeth for ten repetitions about four times a day.
- Apply a heating pad (or some form of heat) for half an hour at least twice a day, and take two aspirin or ibuprofen tablets four times daily to help reduce inflammation.
If Pain Persists
If the pain persists after a few weeks, or if it is already unbearable, your best bet is to see your dentist who can check you for dental problems. Most cases of TMJ dysfunction can be taken care of by either readjusting a patient’s bite or by fitting him/her with a splint. Your dentist is qualified to do both. More severe cases of TMJ dysfunction are referred to oral surgeons and/or head and neck surgeons who can coordinate and treatment plan that may or may not include surgery.
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