What causes temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJD)?
On each side of your face, the TMJ joints link your skull to your lower jaw bone. These joints allow you to move your jaw from side to side and open and close your mouth.
When one or both joints are affected, TMJ dysfunction occurs. The issue could be caused by:

• Jaw injuries are common

• Arthritis

• Jaw misalignment

• Teeth clenching and grinding

• Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is a type of degenerative

• Muscles and ligaments that have been pulled

• Autoimmune and inflammatory diseases

• Myofunctional abnormalities of the orofacial muscles

 

Improper chewing and swallowing movements, poor tongue resting posture, mouth breathing, and tongue-tie are all orofacial myofunctional problems that contribute to TMJ symptoms; any condition that affects the structure or function of the joint causes TMJ symptoms.

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TMJD (temporomandibular joint dysfunction) is caused by a variety of factors.

The TMJ joints connect your skull to your lower jaw bone on each side of your face. These joints allow you to open and close your mouth as well as move your jaw from side to side.
 

TMJ issues can be excruciatingly painful. Jaw pain is frequent, but it can affect your neck, back, temples, and teeth as well.
You may also notice the following signs and symptoms:

• Muscles in the jaw that are aching

• Jaw clenching or popping

• Lock Jaw

• Muscular spasms are a type of muscle spasm that occurs when a muscle

• It's ringing in your ears.

• Headaches that appear and disappear

• Earaches

• Dizziness

In severe cases of TMJ disorder, your jaw may lock, making it difficult or impossible to open and close your mouth.

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What is the treatment for TMJ disorder?
TMJ dysfunction treatment should always focus on the underlying ailment that is causing the problem. When an orofacial myofunctional dysfunction produces TMJ by putting stress on the joint, you require treatments that address the problem.
 

Orofacial myofunctional treatment addresses tongue, lip, and jaw muscular weakness and dysfunction. When a muscular imbalance alters the posture of your tongue while at rest and when you talk or swallow, it is often the source of the problem.
 

Other structures are affected by an incorrectly positioned tongue, which causes the jaw to move out of its usual alignment and puts stress on the TMJ joint. Because all of the structures in your mouth and jaw are so interrelated, even little problems like mouth breathing can have serious consequences on your jaw.

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What role does orofacial myofunctional therapy have in TMJ treatment?
Specialized exercises are used to retrain oral muscles (including your tongue), restore the proper position of soft tissues in your mouth, keep your lips closed, and eliminate mouth breathing. The exercises you need to correct your individual orofacial myofunctional dysfunction are included in your treatment.

Call TASL Speech Therapy Consultants or make an appointment online immediately if you're suffering from TMJ condition pain.