Jaw/TMJ
People who grind their teeth can sometimes develop a serious problem with their jaw, which left untreated, can adversely affect the teeth, gums and bone structures of the mouth.
One of the most common jaw disorders is related to a problem with the temporomandibular joint, the joint that connects your lower jaw to your skull, and allows your upper and lower jaw to open and close and facilitates chewing and speaking.
People with temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) often have a clicking or popping sound when opening and closing their mouths. Such disorders are often accompanied by frequent headaches, neck aches, and in some cases, tooth sensitivity.
Some treatments for TMD include muscle relaxants, aspirin, biofeedback, or wearing a small plastic appliance in the mouth during sleep.
Minor cases of TMD involve discomfort or pain in the jaw muscles. More serious conditions involve improperly aligned joints or dislocated jaws. The most extreme form of TMD involves an arthritic condition of the jaw joint. Traumatic injuries also can cause jaw dislocation.
People with clicking jaw joints and chronic headaches can usually benefit from the wearing or a splint which realigns the jaws to a stable, relaxed position. This eliminates the jaw and neck muscle in balance that leads to muscle tension headaches. Muscle tension headaches can often trigger migraines.
Complete treatment for chronic pain patients often involves realigning the teeth orthodontically to achieve final stablization or the new jaw position that stopped the pain and joint sounds with splint wear.