Balance your bite! TMJ Symptoms that you should not ignore
A confident smile is just one of the many reasons why maintaining good dental health is so important. When teeth are not aligned properly, however, things can become chaotic and possibly lead to issues.
TMJ is short for Temporomandibular Joint, the jaw joint right before your ear. TMJ also often refers to a disorder or dysfunction of that joint, Temporomandibular Joint Disorder. This is alternately sometimes referred to as TMD. A lot of patients say, “I have TMJ,” when, in fact, what they mean is they have TMD. TMD can be a difficult condition to diagnose and treat. When your bite does not fit together properly, and there is dysfunction in the joint, this can result in pain and even cracking sounds in that jaw joint. Correcting a misaligned bite can sometimes resolve or greatly relieve TMD issues.
Bite Misalignment Symptoms
Bite misalignment, or an incorrect seating of how your teeth fit together when you bite down, can occur in different ways and with different symptoms. Some bite misalignment problems can cause quite a bit of discomfort or pain. You may not even realize that the pain you are experiencing has anything to do with your teeth or bite misalignment.
- Pain in the jaw area or your ear
- Headaches
- Sometimes, sinus pain
- Teeth clenching or grinding at night
- Sensitivity to cold
- Damage to your teeth due to chipping, cracking, or wearing down of teeth
- Worn off enamel from the top of your teeth, exposed darker colored surface
Causes Of Bite Misalignment
Even a slight elevation of a new filling or crown can disrupt the alignment of your bite. If you experience discomfort or slight elevation when clenching your teeth, it likely indicates a misalignment that needs adjustment. Biting on a filling or a crown that is not perfectly fitted can cause the tooth to become tender or painful, possibly sensitive to cold. Not only can the tooth hurt, but trying to avoid hitting the high tooth can also cause soreness in the jaw muscles.
A bite misalignment may also indicate an airway dysfunction or a tongue tie. Improper airway function, leading to mouth breathing, can contribute to misalignment in the bite and jaw structures.
Get Your Bite checked
When a jaw-shaped cane is causing or at least contributing to pain or discomfort, it can sometimes be corrected without any invasive procedures. Obviously, every situation and patient is different and requires individual care and attention. Come into our San Antonio dental clinic for an examination, and we can determine if you have any bite problems and assess the degree of malocclusion. Damage to the front teeth can be particularly concerning. If you observe wear on your lower front teeth, it’s crucial to have your bite evaluated promptly. We will discuss all options with you to correct the problem.
