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Do You Have a Clicking Jaw?

TMJWhat is TMJ?

TMJ is a colloquial abbreviation for temporo-mandibular joint – the connection point between a person’s lower jaw and the temporal bones of the skull (in front of each ear). Many people experience issues with this particular joint during their adult lives, with one of the most common symptoms being that of a clicking jaw. The condition is usually very treatable, and can be rectified by your dentist in a variety of ways.

TMJ complications can occur in anyone at any time, although suffering a physical blow to this region can cause/accentuate the problem. Grinding and clenching may also cause issues with TMJ, and if you regularly crush your teeth or tighten your jaw, you should make a conscious effort to stop in order to help prevent further complications with this joint.

What are the symptoms of TMJ?

If you begin to notice a clicking jaw, difficulty eating food, or discomfort when you open/close your mouth, you may want to consult your dental practitioners and discuss the symptoms with them. Chances are you will be experiencing TMJ complications, and your physician will go ahead and take a long look at your jawbone to deduce what the problem might be.

Everyone’s mouth is different, and your dentist may attempt to resolve any issues by adjusting your teeth to re-position the jaw, replace particular teeth to restore balance in the mouth, provide a mouthpiece to clamp down on to aid realignment, or prescribe certain medication to temporarily cure any pain.

More often than not, TMJ problems are relatively simple to resolve. On occasion you may be encouraged to go and see a specialist, who can train you to perform particular mouth stretching exercises that will see any jaw discomfort slowly disappear over time. TMJ is usually benign, and can be cured without much difficulty.

At the Berkeley Clinic in Glasgow we can help you to diagnose TMJ and TMD. Visit our BioPak Centre page or contact our team today.

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