Many people in America suffer from neck pain and tooth grinding. Over-the-counter pain relievers seem to do little, and the cause of their aches remains a mystery. Constant pains in the neck, head, or face, could be a sign of more serious disorder called TMD or TMJ. Dr. James Fondriest, explains TMJ disorder and what you can do to end chronic neck pain.
A Pain in the Neck
Also known as TMD, TMJ disorder affects the temporomandibular joints. These joints are responsible for all movement of the jaw, including chewing and talking. Grinding your teeth, also known as bruxism, or teeth clenching your jaws are common causes of TMD. A misaligned jaw will put extra stress on the jaw joints, many times leading to TMJ disorder. One of the major symptoms of this medical issue is constant neck pain. Patients often experience a clicking or popping sound in the jaw, as well as earaches and migraines or headaches.
Treating TMD
Thankfully, a variety of treatment options exist for TMJ disorder. Since teeth grinding usually causes TMD, reduce the amount of stress in your life to help fight bruxism. Studies show stress to be a leading factor in bruxism. Putting a stop to grinding your teeth will ease neck pain and protect your teeth from long term damage. Also, try to avoid chewing ice or chewing gum, which require repetitive motions that strain the jaw.
Dr. Fondriest, received extensive training on treating TMD, by attending the L. D. Pankey Institute. Dr. Fondriest offers patients a variety of treatments, depending on the severity of their TMD. Mouth guards are oral appliances that reposition the jaw, allowing the muscles to relax and teeth grinding to stop. At Lake Forest Dental Arts, Dr. Fondriest and our team provide restorative dentistry procedures to repair the damage caused by TMD-related teeth grinding.
Come visit us to lean more about your neck pain and tooth grinding
Do you think you might suffer from the effects of TMJ disorder? Call today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Fondriest. Contact our 60045 dentist office at (847) 234-0517. We welcome patients from Lake Forest and North Shore suburbs near Chicago.