Experiencing Both Headaches And Jaw Pain? Tmd Might Be The Culprit

By Author: Cynthia Bowers
Total Articles: 8
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Headaches are painful enough to experience, yet it becomes a living nightmare when you experience jaw pain as well. It's easy enough to blame migraines for your woes, yet this is not actually the case. You may actually be suffering from temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMD. Surprisingly, most people mistaken the symptoms of TMJ for recurring tension headaches.

Knowing the Temporomandibular Joint

The temporomandibular joint, or the TMJ, is the joint connecting the lower jaw to your skull. This joint allows you to chew and talk, and with the help of the condyles, you can open and close your mouth with no problem. Like most parts of the body, however, this joint can experience wear and tear due to daily use.

What's Really Happening?

You may want to think about going to a professional whenever you're experiencing headaches or jaw pain, as these are among the most common symptoms of TMJ. Why does your head experience pain as well, you may ask? As you grind or clench your teeth, the pain coming from your jaw then travels to other places in your skull. In fact, TMJ may even trigger migraines during severe ...
... cases.

Other than headaches, a person suffering from TMJ may also cause toothaches, earaches, or even shoulder pain.

Other Symptoms of TMJ

Pain is the most obvious symptom of TMJ, though there are other subtle symptoms as well. TMJ patients often experience problems when they open their mouths wide, and, in some cases, they may even find their jaws getting stuck open or closed. Other symptoms include clicking or popping sounds in the jaw, tiredness in the face, and even swelling on one side of your face.

Treatment Options

If you see yourself experiencing any of these symptoms, it's best to go to a TMJ and jaw pain specialist in Brandon for proper diagnosis. A typical exam would involve checking the joints for pain, along with a full face X-ray.

Afterwards, you will then be offered different treatment options, including medications and night guards. Every patient has different needs, and a specialist will determine the right treatment depending on the situation. A specialist may also recommend doing away with particular habits, like jaw clenching or gum chewing, to lessen the pain from TMJ.

If you want to learn more about headaches and TMJ, visit health.clevelandclinic.org/2015/06/your-jaw-may-be-to-blame-for-your-migraine-headaches/