5 Consequences of Leaving TMJ Untreated

​The human body often goes through periods of slight pain and discomfort. Sometimes, it's due to its own natural adjustments or aging. Other times, it’s caused by excessive use or wrong movements. One of the worst areas that a person can experience pain is in the head. Head pain can make doing even the most mundane daily tasks a massive inconvenience.

Think of a time when you had to study with a headache, or eat something while your mouth hurt. Most bodily activities involve the head, which means that any discomfort there can deter daily activities in extreme proportions. One common and very irritating pain that people can develop is in the jaw. Humans eat and speak through the jaw, and things like temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) disorder can disrupt daily life.

How Do You Know If You Have TMJ Disorder?

The TMJ is a joint that allows your jaw to move and function properly. It has a range of motion, and when this is agitated or stressed, the jaw can lock up and be extremely painful. Any popping or scraping sounds when opening and closing your mouth are not a good sign, and a dentist can perform scans to identify what caused it.

To test for TMJ disorder, dentists may use an imaging machine called a Cone Beam CT (CBCT) to give a 3-dimensional view of the skull and the TMJ. This scan can show erosion of the bone and narrowing of the pathways that allow the joint to move correctly.

The Consequences of Not Treating a TMJ Disorder

Your temporomandibular joint is essential in ensuring that your jaw moves correctly, and neglecting treatment for this will worsen it over time. Some consequences of leaving this condition to languish are:

1. Joint damage and inflammation of the surrounding muscles
2. Worn teeth, costing hundreds of dollars in dental repair or reconstruction
3. Worsening pain, due to increased muscle contraction which makes moving your head and facial muscles a chore
4. Sleep disorders, as sleeping with the pain will make it difficult to get a good night’s rest
5. Ear ringing and difficulties in hearing

TMJ disorder can affect your daily life in many ways, as this can cause problems with mood, sleep, and eating. In general, pain affects the way humans live, as discomfort is hard to handle. One great way to treat TMJ disorders naturally is through needle treatments to relieve the pain.

Dry Needling for TMJ Disorders

Dry needling is a modern needle treatment based on acupuncture, during which needles are inserted directly into muscle knots. Dry needling can effectively relieve discomfort experienced in many areas of the body, including the cranial area.

Dry needling for TMJ disorders can restore vitality in the jaw due to relieving the pain and tension directly in that area. The human body naturally has trigger points that communicate with nerve endings to register pain. A certified dry needling practitioner can identify what points need to be pinned by a dry needle to effectively release the TMJ pain.

Professional Dry Needling Can Help

If you are experiencing pain or discomfort from TMJ disorder, dry needling can help. Dr. Chanatry is a certified dry needling practitioner specializing in pain relief for all areas of the body. Get the pain relief you need and get on track to a faster recovery. Book your appointment today.

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    Dr. Mike C. Chanatry works with Dr. David K. Rouse providing quality chiropractic care to patients in Jacksonville, FL. If you suffer from back pain, neck pain, arm or leg pain, headache, TMJ, sciatica, or have been involved in an auto accident, our Clinic is located directly across from Jacksonville University on University Blvd N. The physicians at Chanatry Chiropractic can improve your health.