If your teeth are pretty far from the picture above, then you are probably suffering at least one TMJ symptom. You see, beautiful teeth are healthy TMJ. Esthetics and function go together.
TMJ or temporomandibular joint is what connects the lower jaw to the skull. Anywhere there is a joint, there is movement. The movement of the lower jaw can go forward, backward, sideways and in a circular motion. Although it has a wide range of motions, it is still a little restrictive and should only move to a certain extent, much like your knees.
The TMJ is so sensitive that even one flat or ugly dental filling can cause severe pain because it can move your TMJ in the wrong position. Even one twisted tooth can cause headaches because of altered TMJ movements. Your brain is wired to always fight injury--like incorrect jaw positioning--or adapt to injury. Your brain will always try to correct or balance your body to the normal position or ideal position when there is an abnormality. But of course, trying to compensate or trying to fix an injury for a long period of time will take a toll on body structures that are working extra hard and nonstop for the structures that cannot function well.
The major structure that suffers the most because it compensates and works the most is your muscles. Imagine running nonstop without resting, your leg muscles will collapse and experience cramps. The same happens when your TMJ does not go to the correct position for a long period of time, TMJ-related muscle or ligament collapse. And it collapses by manifesting the following, which are also signs that it has been compensating long enough for your TMJ:
1. Regular Headache / Migraine
This is the most common sign that you have a TMJ problem. It's no wonder because muscles around the TMJ directly connect to the muscles surrounding the forehead, scalp, face, and the insides of your skull. Sometimes, muscle spasm manifests in headache and migraine because it is overworking or over-contracting head muscles.
2. Neck pain / frequent muscle spasm around the neck
Second, to the head muscles are the neck muscles. When your lower jaw is positioned too far back, your brain will want to balance by moving the neck forward. The same is true when the lower jaw is positioned too far forward, your neck will move backwards. And having your neck in that awkward position will of course cause pain in the long run.
3. Back pain with/without mild scoliosis
This is similar to neck pain, but when it comes to back pain, it is usually because the right and left bite is uneven, but not limited to. When your right bite is smaller or more collapsed, your head tends to move to the left side stretching your right back muscles and compressing your left muscles, and vice versa. Sometimes, this type of constant back muscle pull can alter and bend your spinal column, thus the cause or progression of scoliosis.
4. Depression
Apart from formed depression being linked to headaches and migraine, your body's hormones and fighting cells will be in a wildfire. Your brain detects injury and may release too much or too less hormones or cells and a hormonal imbalance occurs. When your TMJ space is compressed, the blood vessels housed inside it are also compressed, disrupting blood flow that carries oxygen to the brain. This weakens brain activity and affects the hormones that are released. Since depression is also sometimes directly linked to hormonal balance, it is commonly present when you have TMJD.
5. Pain and/or clicking of the jaw
This is an obvious and straightforward sign that you have a TMJ problem. When there is clicking, usually it means that the joint parts are not in harmony with each other. The disc that cushions this joint will start snapping when there is unfavorable movement. Similar to our knees again, if your knee is dislocated, you will sometimes hear clicking when you try to move it.
6. Extreme sensitivity to light and/or sounds
The position of the TMJ is near the eyes, specifically the optic nerve, or the nerve that is responsible for the function of your eyes. And it is not hard to imagine how a TMJ that is displaced can sometimes impinge structures directly or indirectly connected to where the optic nerve is housed.
7. Sleep Apnea
When your jaw is abnormally displaced backwards, but not limited to, the airway can sometimes be affected. TMJ problems can cause airway obstruction making it hard for you to breathe. Thus, makes it harder for you to sleep because the sleeping position or lying down pushes your jaw further backward, making it twice as hard for you to breathe comfortably.
8. Muscle numbness/muscle fatigue
When your TMJ is not in the right position, the muscles and ligaments do not rest. It is either stretched or compressed. Overworked muscles and ligaments manifest in muscle fatigue, numbness or cramps.
9. Facial paralysis / Bell's Palsy
Displaced TMJ can also impinge nerves that innervate the face, much like how it is in the eyes.
All these signs and symptoms can also be from other disorders or conditions. That's why consulting with your TMJ specialist to rule out or diagnose the TMJ Problem as its cause is important. Prolonging or ignoring these symptoms may cause greater damage in the long run.
I try to make explanations as simple as I could for the general public to appreciate and understand. If there are certain areas that still confuse you or you want a deeper understanding, you may email me at dr.rafaelle@gmail.com. If you have questions regarding your personal case, I am more than happy to give you a consultation. Just book an appointment with us via email, SMS/WhatsApp/Viber (+639778130101), or through this link: Book an Appointment.
Take care!
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