Misaligned bites can cause temporomandibular joint (TMJ) symptoms, including an aching jaw, popping or clicking noises when using your jaw, and other discomfort. How does a misaligned bite cause TMJ symptoms? Here’s what you need to know.

A Misaligned Jaw Can Cause Your TMJ to Malfunction

Having an improper bite can put stress on your temporomandibular joints, which are responsible for your jaw movement. When these two joints—located close to your ears—can’t function properly due to a misaligned bite, you can experience symptoms such as [1]:

• Pain in your jaw or around your ears
• Difficulty chewing
• Trouble opening and closing your mouth
• A clicking or popping sound when moving your jaw

While not everyone will experience discomfort as a result of TMJ malfunction, some people will experience chronic pain that needs professional treatment.

An Improper Bite May Cause Muscle Tension

The muscles that support your temporomandibular joints are powerful—they have to be to help you chew food! However, when you have an improper bite that causes these joints to malfunction, it can cause tension in the surrounding muscles.

Chronic tension in your jaw muscles can lead to headaches and facial pain [2]. For some people, this pain can even radiate outwards towards the neck, shoulders, and upper back. Fortunately, seeking treatment for your TMJ symptoms can help you resolve this tension so you can experience pain-free jaw movement!

Fixing Your Bite Can Help

The good news is that if your misaligned bite is causing your TMJ disorder, fixing your bite is your best bet to alleviate your discomfort [3]. The most effective form of treatment is generally orthodontics, which can repair the bite long-term to prevent TMJ symptoms from returning. Your dentist can examine your bite and discuss your TMJ symptoms with you to determine what your next steps should be.

Suffering From TMJ? There Is Treatment!

For those living with a TMJ disorder, chronic jaw discomfort can be incredibly frustrating and painful. But there is treatment for those suffering from TMJ pain. Could your misaligned bite be causing your TMJ symptoms? A visit to your dentist can help you discover if the key to having a healthy jaw is by fixing your improper bite!

Sources:
1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tmj/symptoms-causes/syc-20350941
2. https://www.cedars-sinai.org/health-library/diseases-and-
3. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/t/tmj

The post Your Misaligned Bite May Be Causing TMJ appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Jaw tightness can range from mild to severe and be most painful when moving the jaw, such as
when chewing or speaking. In fact, some people experience such severe jaw tightness that they
feel the discomfort radiate throughout their face and neck.

But what exactly causes jaw tightness? The following are the most common causes of this
painful condition that may require professional treatment.

Bruxism

Bruxism, the technical term for teeth grinding, can cause the muscles in your jaw and face to
experience tension. Sometimes, this tension can cause headaches if left untreated.
Teeth grinding can have numerous causes, with the most common being stress and an
improper bite. When the upper and lower teeth don’t fit together correctly, it can make teeth
grinding more likely to occur.

If you’re grinding your teeth, you may be doing it at night while you sleep or during times of
stress and not realize it. Symptoms of teeth grinding include a sore jaw, unexplained
headaches, and aching teeth. Fortunately, you can protect your teeth from grinding—you may
need a nightly mouthguard, orthodontic treatment, or stress management to help stop this
harmful habit.

TMJ Disorder

When your temporomandibular joint doesn’t work correctly, it can put undue stress on the
surrounding muscles. This stress can cause pain and tightness in the jaw, and you may even
have ear pain, neck pain, or headaches as well.

TMJ disorders will need a professional diagnosis to be treated. Depending on what’s causing
your TMJ pain, you may be able to engage in stress management to help the problem go away.
For others—such as those whose TMJ pain is caused by an external factor such as a misaligned
bite—further treatment may be necessary.

Symptoms of a TMJ disorder include not being able to fully open your mouth, clicking noises
when moving the jaw, or general jaw pain even when the jaw is at rest.

Improper Bite

If your teeth don’t properly align, your jaw won’t be able to function as well as it needs to. An
improper bite, such as an open bite, crossbite, underbite, or overbite, can cause uneven wear
on the teeth and strain on the jaw muscles.

Fortunately, most misaligned bites can be treated with simple orthodontic appliances. Your
dentist can normally tell if your bite is off and refer you to an orthodontist if necessary. Don’t
ignore an incorrect bite—a healthy bite can help reduce your jaw pain!

Are you experiencing uncomfortable jaw tightness and don’t know the cause? Your dentist can
help you determine what’s causing your pain and work with you to implement a successful
treatment plan to fix it. When jaw tightness is impacting your life, don’t wait to seek help!

The post What Causes Jaw Tightness? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.