Bruxism and TMJ Treatment

Do you ever wake up in the morning and your jaw hurts, or do you hear a popping sound when you open and close your mouth? If so, you may have a condition known as TMD, or Temporomandibular Joint Disorder. TMD occurs when your jaw is misaligned. At Smiles by Dr. Josh, we understand that TMD can negatively affect the quality of your life, so we want to help. Whether you grind your teeth and suffer from bruxism, or your bruxism has contributed to your TMD, we want to offer treatment to give you the relief you need.

What Is TMD?

The technical name for your jaw joint is the temporomandibular joint or TMJ. This joint works like a hinge that connects your jaw to your skull. When your TMJ isn’t functioning correctly, you may have TMD or Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, which can be caused by the following:

• Injury to your face or jaw
• Bruxism (teeth grinding)
• Stress
• Posture
• Arthritis
• Wearing braces

Because every patient is different, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all treatment plan for bruxism and TMD; that’s why Dr. Josh will first listen to you and try to determine the cause of your discomfort. Our goal is to eliminate your pain and improve your jaw mobility so you can get back to living your life. Some of the treatment options for bruxism and TMD are as follows:

• Night Guard—We can design a custom mouthguard for you to wear while you’re sleeping to keep you from grinding your teeth, thus decreasing your bruxism and TMD symptoms.
• Bite Splint—A bite splint is another dental appliance that can help with bruxism and TMD symptoms. Wearing a bite splint to cover your upper or lower arch can keep your teeth and jaw from moving and decrease your discomfort.
• Bite splints can also help with snoring and sleep apnea symptoms for some patients, so if you or your partner snore loudly or stop breathing during sleep, schedule a consultation with our dental office to discuss your options.
• Stress Reduction—If your symptoms are related to anxiety or stress, we can teach you some helpful stress management techniques, such as meditation and deep breathing.
• Jaw Relaxation—Sometimes, something as simple as making a conscious effort to relax your jaw during the day can alleviate your symptoms.

Regardless of whether you suffer from bruxism, TMD, sleep apnea, or snoring, it’s essential to seek treatment as soon as you become symptomatic. Ignoring your symptoms could lead to both dental issues and other health concerns.

If you have untreated bruxism or TMD, you are more susceptible to the following health issues:

• Chipped or cracked teeth
• Worn tooth enamel
• Tooth sensitivity
• Ringing in your ears
• Hearing loss
• Dizziness

If you have untreated sleep apnea, you are more susceptible to the following health issues:

• Heart disease
• Insomnia
• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Depression

If you would like to schedule a consultation with our dental team to discuss issues concerning bruxism, TMD, sleep apnea, or snoring, we can’t wait to hear from you! At Smiles by Dr. Josh, your comfort is our top priority, so call our dental office at (954) 522-4900 to get started today.