TMJ Causes

TMD Causes

Your temporomandibular joint — or “TMJ” — is the hinge area that allows your lower jaw (mandible) to move up, down, and side to side. Throughout the day you rely on it thousands of times to chew, speak, and swallow.

But when something causes the joint to function improperly, it can lead to gradual causes of TMJ pain or temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD.) Even movements that are millimeters off can lead to pain, popping, clicking, and the need for TMD treatment.

Close up of man wincing in pain and holding both hands to his jaw from TMJ.

In rare situations, TMD can even lead to complications such as the jaw becoming locked in place or being unable to open your mouth wide enough to speak and eat normally.

An experienced specialist like Dr. Phillips of The Woodlands can help you find the main reasons for why your TMJ causes pain, as well as how to help treat and prevent TMJ disorder.

What Causes TMJ Disorder?

TMJ disorder can be caused by a wide number of different factors, ranging from something like an automobile accident to a misalignment of the teeth. In many situations, there is a combination of factors contributing to the strain of the joint, leading to gradual strain that ultimately results in chronic jaw pain and joint disruption.

If you are known to experience any of the following factors, you may require professional treatment for TMJ disorder in order to reverse the painful side-effects.

Trauma or injury
Past history
Orthodontic treatment
Tooth and jaw misalignment
Bruxism (clenching and grinding)
Arthritis
Tension headaches and migraines
Sleep apnea
Stress and anxiety

Dr. Phillip’s holistic approach to managing your TMJ function and joint pain will incorporate multiple levels of anatomical factors to determine the most effective method of pain relief.

With over a decade of experience caring for thousands of patients with TMJ disorder, her unique approach and knowledge of TMD therapy allows you to access some of the very best care in the greater Houston area.

Most people develop TMD over the course of several years. It’s only after the chronic condition becomes severe or painful that most people seek treatment. Because the causes do not develop overnight, they require a more specialized approach to correcting them.

How To Help Prevent TMD

Living with TMD impacts everything from your diet to how well you sleep at night. It’s no surprise that treating your TMJ disorder can significantly improve your quality of life.

What most people don’t realize though, is that a majority of TMJ disorder causes can be diminished through changes in lifestyle and certain habits that cause excessive strain to the jaw and muscles around it.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when trying to reduce TMJ pain, causes, or triggers:

When resting, the lips should be closed together and the teeth slightly apart.
Avoid chewing gum throughout the day.
Make an effort to not clench or grit your teeth when focusing, stressed out, or on your commute home from work.
Try to chew on both sides of your mouth, rather than just one.
When eating, cut food up into smaller pieces.

Finally, meet with a TMJ specialist to determine if any other factors may require attention to stop or prevent joint pain. Dr. Phillips will assess a number of different anatomical considerations to determine which ones may be interfering with the natural function of your TMJ.

Additionally, our TMJ specialist in The Woodlands can screen for unknown habits such as bruxism and clenching, which may be severely straining your joint while you sleep. Because such conditions aren’t possible to correct on your own, we can find ways to help you intercept them for faster TMD relief.

Stop TMJ Pain the Right Way

Covering up the symptoms or pain with over the counter products and moist compresses won’t make the TMJ cause go away; in fact, it may allow it to get even worse.

The best treatment for TMD is to work with an experienced TMJ specialist who has helped thousands of other Houstonians manage their chronic jaw pain and headaches through therapeutic and proven techniques.

At Restore TMJ in The Woodlands, we see hundreds of people throughout Conroe, Cypress, Spring, and the greater Houston area each year to help them find an effective and nonsurgical solution to their chronic TMJ pain. Understanding the cause is the only way to treat the condition successfully. With our help, you can feel confident about finding the best path to TMJ pain relief and prevent it from coming back.

Contact Restore TMJ in The Woodlands for a consultation

Determining the causes of your TMD can be difficult without the guidance of an experience practitioner like Dr. Phillips. If you suspect that your current headaches or jaw pain might be related to TMD, we invite you to schedule a consultation at our practice in The Woodlands.