Five Factors That Cause Your TMJ To Worsen

While most people perceive Jawbone pain as an issue associated with dental problems, this pain on your head side can impact your quality of life. Typically, temporomandibular joint pain tends to come and go, making many patients ignore seeking medical intervention. However, in its severity, TMJ can cause debilitating pain and other uncomfortable symptoms that can affect your way of life. The good news is that Gaithersburg TMJ treatments can provide long-term relief regardless of your ideal situation.

Nevertheless, it’s essential to note that TMJ worsens with time, and certain factors cause your condition to flare up. For this reason, let’s examine the top five factors that can cause your TMJ to worsen.

1.     Excessive Jaw movements

Exaggerated jaw movements, especially when chewing hard foods, yelling, or singing, can wreak havoc on your TMJ symptoms. When you strain your jaws, the effects are directly transmitted to the jawbone, which causes the pain to aggravate. Therefore, you should avoid opening your mouth too wide or exaggerating the movements of your mouth regardless of whether you’re eating or yawning. Also, if you are recovering from TMJ disorders, switching to a soft diet will help lessen the mechanical strain in your jawbone.

2.     High-stress levels  

When your stress levels are high, they can increase your body’s inflammation which puts additional strain on your condition. Also, stress is an alarming factor that awakens bruxism which worsens your TMJ symptoms. When you grind your teeth while sleeping, the impact is felt on the affected jawbone or joint, thus aggravating your situation. Therefore, to safely and quickly overcome TMJ, you should incorporate ways to manage stress to prevent unwanted flare-ups.

3.     Physical trauma

If you engage in either head or neck injury, it’s more likely the impact will be felt on the jawbones and the TMJ. The force felt can dislodge the neckbones and dislocate the TMJ, triggering severe and painful symptoms. If you get injured on your head or neck, you should get assessed to help manage the damage before it causes potential complications. Also, if you are under a recovery program for your TMJ, you should avoid activities that put you at risk for injuries.

4.     Hormonal changes

A sudden increase or decrease in your hormone levels can inflict joint inflammation. When your body lacks sufficient Vitamin D, this increases the parathyroid hormone levels, which disrupts the calcium metabolism in excess amounts. Calcium is vital in maintaining bone and joint health, including the jawbone. Therefore, if you experience hormonal changes, you might notice pain or other TMJ symptoms worsening. While these mainly affect women, hormonal fluctuations are also present in most men.

5.     Cartilage damage from arthritis

Although most people think that arthritis can only affect the joints, it can also impact your jaw health. Also, arthritis in the jaw causes cartilage damage, resulting in worsened symptoms like pain and swelling in the affected area. Unfortunately, if you live with arthritis, you are more likely to suffer TMJ damage. That said, it’s important to manage your arthritis before it wreaks havoc on your TMJ disorders.

Considering the intensity of a TMJ flare-up, you should seek regular checkups and treatments from a certified provider. Despite the uncomfortable symptoms of this condition, TMJ is treatable and manageable only if you incorporate effective lifestyle changes with advanced treatments.