The Secret to Ending Jaw Pain and Headaches in Boone, North Carolina
Pain is a very annoying way to discover that something has gone wrong. If your feet hurt, your body could be telling you that your shoes do not fit or that you really need to sit down for a while. So when there is pain in your mouth, Appalachian Dental Care is here for you. But what if the pain is not necessarily in the teeth? What if your jaw is hurting? Or what about headaches and migraines? Believe it or not, our dental office can help with those, too. Call us at 828-264-9938 to receive care that will stop your pain and discomfort with our TMJ and teeth grinding treatments.
What Is The Difference Between TMJ and TMD?
Your lower jaw is held in place by your jaw joint. The technical name for this joint is the temporomandibular joint, but because that is a mouthful, people often use TMJ for short. Whenever you open and close your mouth to talk, drink, eat or even just to yawn, you are using your TMJ. Some people start to get pain in their TMJ, and others might feel a popping and clicking sound when they move their jaw. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you could have a problem called temporomandibular disorder, or TMD.
If TMD is left untreated, things can get worse. Any stiffness you feel in the joint can grow worse and lead to lockjaw, where it is really hard or even impossible to open or close your mouth. The pain in your jaw can move to your neck, shoulders and even your head to cause migraines.
Thankfully, there is a solution. Dr. Steven Airey can create special mouthguards for you to wear at night. These fit comfortably over your teeth but shift your jaw just enough to take some pressure off your TMJ. This gives the joint time to heal, helping relieve TMD symptoms.
Why Do I Need to Worry About Grinding My Teeth?
Your teeth repeatedly mash together whenever you eat. That is fine, because your enamel is tough, and your teeth are supposed to do that. But if you are grinding your teeth without realizing it, this is a condition called bruxism that can cause damage to your teeth. People with bruxism grind their teeth so much, especially during their sleep, that the enamel starts to get worn down. This can lead to tooth sensitivity and increase your risk for tooth decay. As with TMD, you can wear a custom-made mouthguard at night when you sleep. This way, even if you start grinding your teeth, they are protected by that mouthguard.
How Can A Dentist Help With My Migraines?
TMD and bruxism put a lot of pressure on your jaw and its muscles. This pressure can lead to headaches and even migraines. Even if the pressure is not specifically a problem, there are certain nerves around your jaw that, when triggered, can cause migraines. To help prevent this from becoming a problem, Dr. Airey can create a mouthguard called a splint that prevents those nerves from causing migraines.
To learn more about our treatments for TMD and bruxism in Boone, North Carolina, or to schedule your next appointment, give us a call today at 828-264-9938 or use our online form.
