Dealing with Headaches and Jaw Pain through the Holidays

Serving Patients in the areas of Grand Rapids, Holland, and Big Rapids MI

It’s in the middle of the night and you can’t sleep. During the day your head aches and your jaws throb. What’s causing this pain and what can you do about it? Your TMJ dentist in Grand Rapids at TMJ & Sleep Disorders of Michigan would like to share with you some insight on TMJ disorder, it’s causes, and what you can do about it to get through the holidays and beyond.

What is TMJ disorder?

TMJ disorders involves a dysfunction of the jaw joints also known as the temporomandibular joints. A bite imbalance such as what occurs with crooked, misaligned, or missing teeth can leave the jaw joints stressed and strained, leading to inflammation, decreased blood flow, and pain. It is not uncommon for this pain to lead to headaches that become chronic, or even neck and back pain.

What causes TMJ disorder?

Often, TMJ disorder is caused by an uneven bite, or missing teeth. Sometimes an injury to the face can lead to TMJ disorder, or even those with sleep apnea are more likely to have this chronic condition. Bruxism, which occurs when you clench and grind your teeth often while sleeping, also is a primary cause of TMJ disorder.

How can I tell if I have TMJ disorder?

TMJ disorder presents symptoms that may include the following:

• Sore or tender jaw joints
• Pain in the jaw joints
• Headaches
• Neck or back pain
• Sore teeth
• Broken or damaged teeth
• Worn teeth from clenching and grinding
• Bruxism
• Difficulty eating or chewing
• Pain or discomfort when opening or closing jaw
• Clicking or popping sounds when moving jaw
• Unable to open mouth wide

TMJ disorder presents many different symptoms that may even be confused with other problems or disorders. Therefore, it is essential that if you experience any of these symptoms that you are evaluated by a TMJ expert physician in the Big Rapids area such as the ones on staff at TMJ & Sleep Disorders of Michigan. Our doctors have received additional training and education beyond what is taught in dental school. While many general health practitioners may misdiagnose a case of TMJ disorder, we have the knowledge and experience to diagnose and treat TMJ disorder.

What should I do if I have TMJ disorder?

Chronic pain can leave you feel defeated, and cause you to miss out on time with your loved ones. This Christmas, if you find that you are dealing with chronic pain that you believe is related to TMJ disorder, contact our office by calling (616) 458-0631 to schedule an evaluation. We can easily treat TMJ disorder by finding the desired resting position of your jaw, and crafting a specially designed oral appliance to help hold your jaw in place while you sleep. This will in turn relieve you of your chronic jaw pain and headaches associated with TMJ disorder.

Dealing with pain through the holidays

To avoid irritating your jaw, try to stick to foods that are easy to chew. Avoid chewy foods such as tough meat. Don’t crunch on hard candies or ice. Apply ice packs for 20 minutes at a time to help relieve any inflammation in your jaws. Also, take over-the-counter pain medication to help take the edge off of any pain that you may experience in your jaws during the holidays.

TMJ & Sleep Disorders of Michigan welcomes patients of Big Rapids, Grand Rapids, and Holland, Michigan. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!