Causes of Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD/TMJ)

    OAKTON, VA, September 27, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Many people go to their regular doctor and get treatment, which is usually pain medication. However, that might not get to the root of the problem. With a visit to the dentist, especially a neuromuscular dentist, he/she might tell you that you are suffering from TMD and then you might be on the road to recovery.

So what causes TMD? There are many underlying factors why one gets TMD. It could be as simple as a previous trauma to the head or as complex as years of bad habits with your jaw to create this disorder.

• Otherwise known as constant tooth grinding, bruxism is a main cause of TMD. Grinding teeth can cause bite problems, misshaped teeth, and often headaches. When the bite is not aligned, it stresses the jaw joints, causing soreness and habits that are not good for the jaw muscles and joints. Stress is often overlooked when it comes to bruxism. Many people who are stressed in their everyday lives sometimes grind and clench their teeth constantly, wearing down their teeth and muscles.
• Improperly aligned teeth can also lead to TMD. When teeth are not in the right place this can cause a person to chew unnaturally, stressing the jaw. If you have a severe overbite or under-bite, this can cause pain which in turn leads to a changing of the way one chews. This leads to unnatural jaw movement which can lead to TMD. Its like a ripple down effect with many of the causes of TMD, this is why you want to take care of your problems early, by visiting with your dentist.
• A trauma to the head or jaw region can lead to years of TMD trouble. Offsetting the jaw joints can be very painful and have a lasting effect in that region. However there are way to retrain muscles through physical therapy and devices you can wear to help to deal with the pain that comes with TMD.

All of the structures in your mouth are very complicated and they all work together. When one of the parts is malfunctioning it has a reaction on all the other parts. Any problem with this system of muscles, bones, joints, ligaments, and teeth can lead you to TMD.

If you want more information on Temporomandibular Joint Disorder and you live in Tysons Corner, Fairfax, or Reston, you can visit the website of Dr. Chung and his team at Softouch Dental Care.

Website: http://www.softouchdentalcare.com

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