Many people suffer silently without understanding what causes their TMJ symptoms and why they persist. The most common symptom is pain around the jaw joint, which can be brought on by chewing or talking. It’s important to note that if you have a tendency to grind your teeth at night, this could be the source of your discomfort as well.
It’s easy to overlook the symptoms of TMJ, but if you experience pain in your jaw or neck, it may be time to get checked out. The sooner you find out what is causing the problem, the easier it will be to treat and manage any discomfort.
There are several reasons why TMJ symptoms may be ignored, including these three common reasons:
1. There are many different types of TMJ disorders, and they can differ in level of severity. Disorders may include chronic pain, clenching or grinding of teeth, certain types of arthritis, injury, and others. Severity can range from mild to severe and interfere with daily life.
2. TMJ symptoms are often attributed to other causes. Common symptoms, such as stiff neck, shoulder tension, headaches, migraines, difficulty or pain when chewing, ringing in the ears, and clicking noises in the jaw are sometimes misdiagnosed or overlooked. Millions of people suffer with TMJ disorders and don’t realize these symptoms are caused by their condition. Many people mistakenly believe they are caused by stress or other conditions.
3. Patients may not report their symptoms because they think it’s “normal” or nothing will help. Many people will suffer in silence. Unfortunately, these issues may go on for months or years without proper treatment.
You may not be aware that you have a TMJ disorder, so it’s important to seek an evaluation if you are having pain or symptoms. Many people do not know there is a treatment available for these disorders.
The first thing you should do is talk to a dentist who specializes in TMJ treatment, like Dr. Brandon Snell, DMD, with Orofacial Pain Clinic. He will assess the cause and severity of your issue and recommend treatments.
Dr. Snell has experience and special training to identify TMJ disorders and will offer a treatment plan that will provide relief from pain and discomfort. You can click here to schedule a consultation today.