Find Relief For Headaches In Ocala
Do you have headaches that don’t quit in Ocala, even if you take regular over-the-counter medications? Do you find that you have these headaches as soon as you wake up in the morning? Or maybe the headaches wake you up as you sleep? Are these headaches accompanied by your jaw or your neck or your shoulders also aching? Is it hard to open or close your mouth?
If so, you may have TMD. TMD is temporomandibular joint disorder. You may have heard this described as TMJ, but TMJ is the temporomandibular joint—the joint at the point of either side of your jaw—not the pain associated with it. Those with TMJ pain are described as having TMD.
Treatment For TMJ Pain
While occasional jaw pain isn’t a major cause of concern, you don’t want to live with daily headaches and throbbing pain. And, you don’t have to!
Our team at Ocala Smiles can offer you a TMJ treatment in Ocala that may eradicate your TMD issues for good. We do this by practicing neuromuscular dentistry. This TMJ treatment near Ocala and The Villages could be your ticket to freedom from headaches once and for all!
We have helped numerous Ocala, Florida, patients relieve the searing, debilitating pain of headaches caused by the misalignment of jaw and muscle. If tooth position and muscle position are at odds and creating this pain, we can help with TMJ treatment.
Understanding the Difference Between TMJ and TMD
What Is the TMJ?
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a hinge that attaches the jawbone to the rest of your skull. You have one of these hinges on each side of your face that are essential to moving your mouth.
These joints impact chewing, speaking, and much more. Because this is such a key component of your jaw, pain or tension in the TMJ, on one side or both, can not only affect your jaw function, but it can also spread to cause tension in your neck and head.
There are various causes of TMJ pain. When you come to see the team at Ocala Smiles, we will help diagnose the underlying cause so we can find the right treatment approach.
What Is TMD?
TMD is a disorder or dysfunction of the TMJ. These disorders are often difficult to figure out, as the underlying causes are still being researched—so for this reason, all TMJ pain is grouped under the same name. TMD can appear as many different symptoms:
- Jaw clicking.
- Jaw locking.
- Stiffness in the jaw.
- Tension in the neck or jaw.
- Frequent headaches or migraines.
While all the causes for these pains are not known for certain, some factors increase your risk of developing TMJ pain. These risk factors include:
- Genetic factors.
- Already having arthritis.
- Previous jaw injuries or diseases.
- A tendency to clench teeth (or bruxism).
- Grinding teeth in the night.
- Misaligned jaw.
If you’ve noticed jaw pain of any kind, contact the team at Ocala Smiles today to request an appointment. We can help figure out if your jaw pain is TMD or some other problem. From there, we will develop a treatment plan to get you the relief you need!
TMJ / TMD Treatment with Neuromuscular Dentistry
A perfect alignment helps form the ideal harmony of jaw joints (TMJ) and jaw muscles, resulting in a balanced bite that doesn’t place any stress on the body. We now know that when the coordination between your teeth, facial muscles, and the TMJ is disrupted, the consequences spread beyond just the jaw itself.
These consequences can include:
- Headaches.
- Back or neck pain.
- Dizziness.
- Postural problems.
- Jaw soreness.
- Difficulty opening or closing your mouth.
Thankfully, non-surgical neuromuscular dentistry has opened the way to relief from symptoms like these. Dr. Evelyn here at Ocala Smiles has the extra training and certifications in this treatment to help the residents of Ocala, Florida.
Other TMJ Treatment Options
Most of our patients can find relief from the pain and discomfort of TMJ problems through simple interventions. We understand that you don’t want to go through more invasive treatments unless you absolutely have to, but we’ve found that some simple things help most of our patients dealing with TMD.
Nightguards | One of the first treatments we start with is a nightguard. A nightguard gives your mouth and jaw protection in several ways. This TMJ treatment for TMD is something like a mouthguard that athletes wear when they play sports. It aligns your jaw more properly and can keep you from grinding your teeth.
It also has “give,” so when you close your mouth, it will move your jaw back open a bit before you can clench too hard. The clenching, as well as the grinding, is a big contributor to the pain in your TMJ.
If a nightguard treatment doesn’t give you relief, we will look into other underlying causes and go from there. Other available treatments for TMJ include certain medications or even Botox injections. If one of our treatments doesn’t work for you, we can recommend one of our trusted associates instead.
Still have questions about TMD treatments? Feel free to contact our office today. We are happy to assist you!
Contact Us to Find TMJ Pain Relief
The symptoms of TMJ pain can be frustrating and impact our daily life. If you’re tired of headaches, jaw soreness, or other symptoms, you don’t have to live with them anymore. Instead, let the dental staff at Ocala Smiles work with you to find a non-invasive treatment. We always strive to offer a welcoming environment to all of our patients, so don’t hesitate to contact us if you’re worried about a dental visit or dealing with severe pain.
If you are suffering because of your TMJ or have TMJ headaches, call us in Ocala today. We would like to do all we can, with TMJ treatment, to ease your pain and restore your great oral health with our general dentistry service if you are in Ocala or The Villages!