Do you experience pain in your face or jaw?
This pain that you are experiencing could be related to your temporomandibular joint (TMJ). This is the hinge joint that allows you to open and close your mouth. This pain can often be debilitating because it makes eating, chewing, brushing your teeth difficult and can even keep you from getting a good night’s rest.
When this joint is not working properly it is called temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). The TMJ has many muscles, ligaments, discs and bones that move your joint forward, backwards, and side to side.
To understand TMD it is helpful to know some symptoms to look for:
- Pain or tenderness in your jaw joint
- Pain in your neck, shoulders or face
- Swelling on the side of your face
- Pain in or around your ear
- Pain while chewing or an uncomfortable bite
- Toothaches
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Hearing problems or ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Locked jaw, which makes it difficult to open or close your mouth
- Clicking or grinding sensation when opening and closing your mouth
Often when individuals experience these symptoms, they may visit their dentist or doctor to find relief. There is another great option for you and that is a physiotherapist that specializes in TMD. At Fortius, our TMJ specialist has many years of experience treating TMD with much success. The physiotherapist will assess and evaluate your pain and other symptoms. An individualized treatment plan will be designed to help you recover.
In the meantime, some things you can do to help prevent and manage TMJ pain are:
- Avoid excessive chewing (of your nails, gum, pen caps, etc). This allows your jaw to rest.
- Avoid yawning unnecessary
- Do not hold your phone up using only your shoulder
- Stop resting your jaw in your hand
- Avoid sleeping face down, since this puts unnecessary strain on your neck
- Be aware of when you are clenching your jaw or grinding your teeth
- Avoid hard or chewy foods and opt for soft, easy to chew foods instead.
- Place moist heat or cold packs on your jaw and the side of your face for about 10 minutes – You can do this several times a day
If you have been experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned, do not wait as they can worsen. Contact the clinic to learn more and start your road to recovery!
Tania Mannella DPT
Fortius Physiotherapy and Wellness