TMJ Disorder (TMJ/TMD) is a condition that affects adults and even children across the country and worldwide. It can affect your ability to chew and speak, as well as interfere with your quality of life as it results in chronic pain that can be anywhere from mild or moderate to severe or debilitating in nature. Pain or discomfort from TMJ/TMD can spread from the face and jaw joints to the head, neck, or even the back and extremities like the arms, legs, hands, or feet.
TMJ Disorder
Symptoms of TMJ Disorder include but are not limited to:
- Jaw pain that can feel dull, achy, sharp, stabbing, tingling, numbing, and/or burning
- Facial pain at the cheekbones, eyebrows, center of the forehead
- Ear pain, stuffy ears, hearing loss, tinnitus (ear ringing), and/or dizziness
- Difficulty or pain when chewing or opening wide
- Limited jaw mobility or inability to open your mouth wide like to yawn or bite into an apple
- Jaw locking closed or catching – when the jaw locks closed, the mouth CAN STILL open – but not to the full range of motion. Usually with the jaw locking closed, opening is limited to 1-2 finger widths.
How TMJ Disorder Impacts Life
Living with TMJ Disorder can affect your daily life with self-care, eating, speaking, and in moderate and severe cases can lead to mood disorders or depression.
Here are some of the ways that TMJ disorder could affect your quality of life:
Difficulty Eating
Eating or chewing often exacerbates jaw pain associated with TMJ/TMD. It can make opening the mouth wide to take a bite of a sandwich difficult or painful. In some cases, jaw pain when eating can be so severe that you may barely be able to open your mouth!
Speaking Challenges
The muscles that surround and support the jaw become trapped in a dysfuncional state with TMJ/TMD. This muscle dysfunction can cause difficulty speaking, muscle twitching, and/or slurring of speech.
Sleep Disruptions
TMJ disorder can also interfere with sleep. In some cases, pain worsens at night, which could result in episodes of insomnia or waking up due to pain. A lack of quality sleep is likely to cause fatigue and other health problems.
Mental Health Impact
Chronic pain can have a negative impact on mental health. Living with pain and inflammation on a daily basis can take a huge toll and lead to increased stress, depression, fatigue, isolation, lack of activity and more!
TMJ Dentist in Vancouver, WA
TMJ Disorder can drastically reduce your quality of life if you are unable to take care of yourself, have difficulty going to work and getting through the day, or avoid family and friends. If you experience TMJ/TMD, contact Dr. Mistry’s office now by calling (503) 255-8293.
