TMJ: What Is It and How Is It Treated?

TMJ:   What Is It and How Is It Treated?

 

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ), located in front of each ear, has been described as one of the most complex joints in the entire body.  The joint apparatus itself consists of the upper jaw, lower jaw, and a disc that lies between, all of which is encapsulated and surrounded by muscles, tendons, and ligaments.  When in proper allignment, the joints and its surrounding structures work harmoniously—enabling the jaw to slide and rotate smoothly, and thereby allowing us to talk, chew, yawn, and swallow.   However, when not well aligned or asynchronous, a number of problems varying in severity may arise—all of which can be referred to as temporomandibular disorders (TMDs).

Signs and symptoms of TMD range from jaw soreness, headaches, radiating pain (behind the eyes, in the face, shoulder, and/or back), earaches or ringing in the ears, clicking or popping of the jaw (with or without pain), locking of the jaw, limited mouth movement, clenching or grinding of teeth, dizziness, teeth sensitivity, a change in the how the upper and lower teeth fit together, to even numbness or a tingly sensation in the fingers.  Please note that none of these signs alone are indicative of TMD, which is why it is imperative that a comprehensive evaluation of your teeth, muscles, and joints are evaluted by your dentist.  

Although the exact cause of TMD is still somewhat unclear, most dentists will agree the symptoms often arise from problems within the joint itself or excessive strain on the muscles that control chewing, swallowing, and speech.  It is evident however that injury to the jaw, TMJ, or head and neck muscles can cause TMD.  Other possible causes include excessive pressure on the TMJ from long-term clenching or grinding of teeth, dislocation of the disc of the joint apparatus, presence of arthritis in the TMJ,  physical and mental stresses, which can cause tightening of facial and jaw muscles and clenching of teeth, or bite discrepancies which can lead muscle disharmony. 

Treatment options of TMD vary, many of which do not include surgery.  These can include simply resting of the joints, practicing relaxation techniques and stress management, behavior modification, physical therapy, orthopedic or bite appliance therapy, bite correction (via orthodontics, restorative, equilibration, or appliance therapy), posture training, diet modificiation, ice and hot packs, medications and/or pain relievers, or even surgery. 

 

 

 

 

http://ezinearticles.com/?Temporomandibular-Joint-(TMJ)---What-Is-It-and-How-Is-It-Treated?&id=7286091

 

 

Soda – you’ve heard it’s bad for your health, but did you know its effect on your teeth?

We are only given a single set of natural teeth in life, so it is critical that we care for them properly by practicing excellent home-care and maintaining good oral health. One of the most common consequences of soda drinking is dental caries, or tooth decay.   A less obvious repercussion of soda drinking, even diet soda, is its extremely acidic and corrosive effects on teeth.  Some studies have gone so far to have made similar comparisons between drinking soda and drinking battery acid fluid!  The pH of the mouth is typically approximately 6.8, and anything below 5.5 is acidic enough to start dissolving tooth enamel.  It’s astounding the pH levels of drinks that otherwise seem pretty innocuous. 

             Even within just 3 minutes of drinking soda, it starts eroding layers of tooth structure, putting them at further risk particularly when combined with other damaging risk factors such as a sugary diet, heavy brushing, ice-chewing, or grinding. The resulting damage can be considerable!  Compounding the erosive effects of soda alone, regular sodas also contain considerable amounts of refined sugar, which bathing your teeth in, creates plaque and provides a food source for the colonies of bacteria inhabiting your mouth.  The bacteria metabolizing this food source releases toxins as a by-product, leading to demineralization of your teeth and producing an unsightly yellowish mottled chalky appearance.  Eventually this leads to bad breath and cavities that need to be treated by a dentist. 

            So the next question we hope you’re asking is, “how can I prevent this?  The most obvious, but probably less than desirable, is to cut soda completely out your diet --substituting with fresh fruit juices, milk, or water are better alternatives.  Keep in mind, however, citrus juice should be consumed in moderation due to its highly acidic nature.  However, it’s best to drink such acidic juices in a single sitting as quickly as possible, rather than sipping on it all day.  The concern is more frequency than quantity—so have your drink and be done with it.  Energy drinks and power drinks should be minimized as well, as they also contain a large unexpected amount of sugar.  The use of straws has also been recommended, with that idea that the straw reduces the contact of the soda with your teeth.   Efforts should also be made to avoid sipping on your acidic and/or sugary drinks for an extended period of time, as this puts your teeth at more risk with this repeated bathing.  It’s always best to rinse your teeth with water afterwards to hopefully wash out or at least dilute the sugar and acidity, in efforts to preserve the enamel on your teeth.   Fluoride (in most tap-water, toothpaste, some mouth rinses), and of course regular visits to your dentist, all help reduce your cavity count and strengthen your enamel.  Often times, when necessary, prescription strength fluoride toothpastes or rinses may be recommended for patients who display a moderate to high-caries risk.  Managing your oral health is important. Teeth are unfortunately not something that the body can regenerate, and the intent of course is to have them throughout your lifetime.  By taking care of your teeth today, you are less likely to need more extensive (and often more expensive) dentistry tomorrow! 

                                                      

http://www.livestrong.com/article/479073-can-soda-affect-teeth/#ixzz2VXmpTw5X

www.avantdentistry.com