TMJ & TMD

Do you clench and grind your teeth all night?  How about during the day?  Do you frequently wake up with headaches?  Does your dentist ever tell you that you are wearing down your teeth and or your dental restorations and need a Nightguard?  When you eat chewy foods does your mouth get actually tired chewing?  How about noticing that you have or clicking or popping sound when you open or close your mouth? These are just a few of the many symptoms people will notice when suffering from a TMD ( temporomandibular joint dysfunction).  

The TMJ is short for the temporomandibular joint.  There is one on each side of your face and they attach your jaw to the bottom of your skull.  TMDs according to Johns Hopkins, are disorders of the jaw muscles, temporomandibular joint, and the nerves associated with chronic facial pain.  Symptoms can range from very mild to very severe.  They can actually limit a person's ability to open and close their mouth properly and cause much discomfort and or pain.  

Our proper resting posture should always be with our lips together, breathing through our nose, with our teeth slightly apart and our tongues lightly suctioned to the roof of our mouths. The common denominator of most orofacial myofunctional disorders is that they result in changing this normal rest posture by opening or closing the normal space between our teeth.  This space is known as our dental freeway space.  

Here at MyoAir, we collaborate as needed with your other healthcare providers as we work on correcting those OMDs, helping to restore that proper rest posture, and giving you back the quality of life you and your family members deserve.  The bottom line is it should not hurt to open and close your mouth.  Consider taking our self-assessment online  and/or call us any time for a consultation appointment.  We will be happy to answer all your questions.