Could a TMJ disorder be to blame or is there something else going on?

It can be downright miserable when all you want to do is take your lunch break and enjoy your delicious food; however, your jaws have other plans. Instead of savoring every morsel your jaws feeling achy, tired and in pain. What could be going on? Our Findlay, OH, dentist, Dr. Krystal DeClerck, is here to provide a little insight into what could be causing your jaw discomfort and what you can do about it.

Are you experiencing any of these symptoms?

• Jaw pain and stiffness
• Jaws that tire easily
• Limited mobility in the jaw joint
• A popping or clicking sound when opening your jaws
• Pain when chewing
• Facial pain
• Feeling as if the jaw joint locks up on you
• Pain around the ears

If you said “yes” to a few or all of these symptoms then you could very well be dealing with TMJ disorder. It’s important that you schedule an evaluation with our Findlay general dentist who will be able to determine if this jaw joint disorder is to blame. While you may think you have a TMJ disorder, there are certainly other issues that could be causing your jaw pain so you will want to have your symptoms checked out if they don’t go away on their own after a week or two.

What is TMJ disorder?

This condition occurs when there is something wrong with the way the jaw joint functions. The joint is important because it not only attaches the jaws to the skull but it also is responsible for all jaw movements like chewing or speaking. There are many reasons why this problem may surface, from teeth grinding to a traumatic injury to the face.

What else could be causing my jaw pain?

If your jaw symptoms aren’t due to a TMJ disorder it’s important that we figure out what’s going on. Other causes of jaw pain include:

• A dental infection
• Jaw clenching or teeth grinding
• Gum disease
• An abscess

Don’t let jaw pain happen to you. If you are experiencing symptoms of a TMJ disorder it’s important that you turn to the dental experts at DeClerck Family Dental in Findlay, OH, to set things right. Call our office today!