Treat Your TMJ, Not Just the Pain
What Is TMJ?
You may have TMJ if you have pain and tenderness in the jaw, constant headaches, pain in the neck and shoulders, a clicking or popping sound when you open or close your mouth, and/or a jaw that locks up. “TMJ” stands for “temporomandibular joint,” but it has also come to be a catch-all term for disorders of the jaw. There are many possible reasons for developing TMJ – it might be inherited, or it might be the result of years of tooth grinding or misaligned teeth.
Over-the-counter pain medication, such as ibuprofen or aspirin, can be an inexpensive and easy-to-find solution for jaw pain, but years of taking pain medication can end up doing more harm than good:
- It can do damage to the rest of your body. If you constantly take more than you should when you are in pain or if you take it for years and years, you can end up with serious heart, digestive, or kidney problems.
- It is possible you shouldn’t take it at all. If you are pregnant or have a heart condition, any amount of over-the-counter pain medication might be too much.
- It is easy to take too much. For instance, if you take ibuprofen because of jaw pain and then soon after take a medicine that has ibuprofen in it (such as Advil PM), you can end up with a double dose. This can result in symptoms ranging from nausea to difficulty breathing.
Instead of depending on medication for the rest of your life, speak to your dentist about treating your jaw pain instead. It can help jaw pain to have teeth straightened, to replace a lost tooth, or to start wearing a night guard to prevent tooth grinding.
Bentz Dental Implant & Prosthodontic Center can help you to find a healthier, more permanent solution for your jaw pain. Contact the office in East Norriton, PA, at (610) 272-6949 to make an appointment today.
