Healthy Teeth Tips

TMJ, or temporomandibular joint disorder, is an oral condition that affects about 20% of the population. TMJ joints, play an integral part in your oral health and overall well-being by supporting and connecting your lower jaw to the rest of your skull, allowing you to chew food properly and help keep your mouth healthy and free of infection. However, not many are aware that TMJ disorder can severely impact your oral health and overall health if left untreated over time. Luckily, there are many options to help you treat TMJ that don't involve surgery! Keep reading to learn more about the impact of TMJ and some treatment options. What is TMJ? TMJ, or Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, is a condition where the mandible (or lower jaw) moves out of alignment with the skull. This can cause pain in one or both jaws, difficulty chewing food, earaches, headaches and neck pain. In some cases, teeth grinding may occur as well as muscle spasms in the face and mouth area. In many cases, these sy...

A study show that TMJ affects up to 8% of the American population, but it is difficult to pinpoint its exact prevalence rate because many people go undiagnosed or never seek treatment. The condition can range from mild to severe, so knowing what symptoms to look out for and how to treat it can help you control the pain and keep it from worsening. Here's your guide on TMJ disorder and how to get better. What is TMJ? TMJ or Temporomandibular Joint disorder is a chronic condition where the bones in your jaw that meet during chewing move out of place. The disorder can cause severe pain in your neck, face, mouth and even ear. The temporomandibular joint disorder affects the muscles that control your jaw and the jaw joints. If you experience chronic pain in your jaw, your teeth may be grinding or clenching too tightly, or you may feel like the motion of your jaw is restricted; it could be caused by TMJ disorder. Please visit the tmj specialist Albuquerque as early as possible. Wha...

TMJ syndrome, or temporomandibular joint syndrome, refers to an uncomfortable condition involving pain in the joint between your jaw and skull as well as misalignment of the jaw itself. If you’re suffering from TMJ symptoms, there are several strategies that can help you ease the pain and live more comfortably with your condition. This blog post from a TMJ specialist in Albuquerque lists some of the most effective ones you can try for yourself. Minimize Wide Jaw Movements: One way to help reduce pain from TMJ is to avoid making wide jaw movements. This means things like yawning and chewing gum should be done in moderation. If you must yawn, do so with your mouth closed as much as possible. When chewing gum, try to use a soft brand that doesn't require a lot of jaw movement. You can also try chewing on the insides of your cheeks instead of using your molars. If you're suffering from more chronic TMJ, it's likely that these techniques won't work as well. In this ca...

Did you know that, in the United States alone, 5 million people suffer from TMJ disorder? TMJ is a common condition that should be treated earlier to avoid certain complications. However, many people don't realize that there are significant health risks associated with untreated TMJ disorder. In fact, some studies have found that untreated TMJ disorder can be linked to headaches, migraines, high blood pressure and heart disease! In this blog, our  TMJ specialist Albuquerque  has listed the risks associated with untreated TMJ disorder. Jaw Pain When you have untreated TMJ disorder, you may experience jaw pain, making it difficult to eat, speak, and even sleep. The pain may be constant or come and go, and it can be mild or severe. In some cases, the pain is so severe that it can cause headaches and earaches. If you don't treat it, the joint at the back of your jaw (temporomandibular joint) will continue to weaken and cause pain. Insomnia One of the most common symptoms of TMJ di...