People who experience problems with their TMJ typically feel pain, hear popping or clicking
sounds when moving their jaw, or have a variety of other symptoms that can severely impact
their quality of life.

Since the TMJ is responsible for everything from eating to talking, the pain of having a TMJ
disorder is difficult to avoid. What are the consequences of leaving your TMJ disorder
untreated?

Head, Neck, and Shoulder Pain

One of the symptoms TMJ disorders cause is tension in the jaw muscles. When the joint isn’t
able to work properly, the surrounding muscles can become stiff and sore. If the muscles that
are responsible for your jaw are tense, this tension can radiate outwards to cause pain in the
surrounding area.

Headaches are common in those who have a TMJ disorder, but so is neck pain, upper back pain,
and even shoulder pain. Without treatment, your tense jaw muscles can continue to affect your
body and result in chronic tension or pain.

Earaches

Because the TMJ is so close to the ears, problems with this joint can result in earaches, tinnitus,
or recurring ear infections. Some sufferers of TMJ also experience problems hearing, vertigo, or
general ear pain.

Problems with the inner ear can result in a variety of symptoms, so don’t overlook your TMJ as
the cause if you’re consistently experiencing problems with your ears with no definite cause!

Jaw Pain

TMJ can lead to problems with the jaw that are painful and can cause permanent damage. For
instance, if arthritis is causing your TMJ pain, the cartilage in your TMJ is at risk to be damaged.
Tense muscles can cause a locked jaw, dislocation of the jaw, or general chronic jaw pain.

Since the jaw is involved in many activities—from yawning to eating to speaking—this jaw pain
is often chronic and unavoidable, making it an aggravating, persistent symptom for people who
live with TMJ problems.

Impacted Quality of Life

As a result of the constant pain of your TMJ disorder, you may find yourself reaching more
often for pain medication. Whether over-the-counter or prescription, these medications can
have a range of effects on the body if overused.

In addition, you may not be able to concentrate, have trouble sleeping, or feel depressed
because of your constant pain and discomfort. People who live with TMJ disorders can
experience an impacted quality of life as a result of their symptoms.

These consequences of untreated TMJ disorders are entirely treatable! Many of the causes of
TMJ pain can be treated without invasive means such as surgery. There’s no reason to let your
TMJ pain prevent you from enjoying life and being your best self. Schedule an appointment
with your dentist today to learn what treatments are available for your TMJ pain!

The post What Are the Consequences of Untreated TMJ? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Create Room for Bacteria

Your crowded teeth might not leave much room in your mouth, but what they are doing is creating room for bacteria to grow. This is because crowded teeth feature tight spaces that can be difficult—if not impossible—to clean with a toothbrush and some floss. It’s often challenging to clean crowded teeth because of the tight spaces they create in the mouth. When you can’t properly clean between teeth, bacteria feed plaque which can build up and eventually cause tooth decay or gum disease. When you can’t properly clean your teeth, bacteria can grow and cause oral health problems!

Abnormal Tooth Wear

Crowded teeth often come with a bite misalignment, which means that your teeth don’t fit together properly when you close your mouth or chew. If the teeth aren’t fitting together as they should, abnormal wear can happen to your teeth over time. The surfaces of your teeth can be worn down, exposing your dentin, which can lead to sensitive teeth and eventually problems with your tooth’s nerve as well as your gums. You may also be more at risk for grinding your teeth because of crowded or misaligned teeth, which causes excessive pressure and wear on your smile that can be damaging for life. How can you prevent crowded teeth from affecting your smile?

Steps to a Great Smile

Generally dental treatment is needed for your crowded teeth to make space for you to clean, properly chew, and have a beautiful correct bite. Your dental specializes in helping people create their dream smile. Your dream smile is more than just pretty teeth—your jaw and teeth should be entirely functional. Oftentimes people with crowded teeth experience problems speaking or chewing as well as a result of the misaligned bite or teeth.

When your crowded teeth are corrected, your teeth will be easier to clean, therefore allowing you to take control of your dental health and better brush and floss your teeth. This means preventing tooth decay and gum disease in addition to not putting extra stress or pressure on your teeth due to an improper bite. Your teeth will also be more functional for you and provide you with the confidence and functionality of a life with a healthy smile!

If you never got the opportunity to take advantage of care for your crowded teeth, it’s never too late to start. Your teeth last a lifetime, and you can experience a functional, healthy smile by correcting your crowded teeth. Reduce your risk for gum disease and tooth decay due to your crowded teeth—visit your dentist to begin your journey to a healthy smile today!

The post Crowded Teeth Affect More Than Your Appearance appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.