Silver Spring Dental Healthcare Professionals Explain TMJ Disorders, PART 2: Symptoms and Diagnosis12/16/2013 Welcome back to our four-part article series on the causes, symptoms and treatment options for the disorders that affect the articulating joint between the jawbone and temporal plate of the skull, the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). In our previous article, the first installment of the series, an experienced Silver Spring dental healthcare practitioner explained to us what TMD is (temporomandibular disorder) and what’s likely to cause it. It was also explained that Silver Spring residents between the ages of 20 and 40 are most likely to suffer from it, as are women. Side Note: Why the gender bias? TMD is linked with stress. Emotional/psychological strain tends to cause people to grind their teeth, tighten their facial muscles and clench their jaw, which puts strain on the joint and can lead to the inflammation of the surrounding muscles. Perhaps men are more adept at releasing stress and tension, while women tend to “bottle it up”. This is pure conjecture, but good food for thought. In this article, the second installment of the series, a dentist in Silver Spring MD runs us through the symptoms of TMD before explaining how this condition is diagnosed. You may have TMD if you have noticed one or more of the following symptoms: 1. Pain, discomfort, stiffness or tenderness in the jaw joint, your neck and shoulders, your face and in or immediately around the ear. This discomfort may become especially apparent when you articulate the TMJ, such as when you eat, speak or yawn. 2. Dizziness, hearing problems and tinnitus, a ringing sound in the ears. 3. There’s a popping, grating or clicking sound in the joint when you articulate your jaw. “This isn’t necessarily accompanied by discomfort or tenderness, although it can be,” explain Silver Spring dental healthcare specialists. 4. Difficulty opening your mouth wide. You may also on occasion find your jaw locking or getting stuck in position. 5. A feeling of muscle fatigue in the face and neck. 6. Chronic headaches, earaches, toothaches, neck aches and pain in the upper shoulders. 7. Facial swelling on one or both sides of the face. 8. A feeling that your upper and lower jaws are not meeting properly, resulting in an uncomfortable bite. As it was previously explained, the exact cause of TMD is not always clear, which can make it tricky to identify. Many patients are led to believe that they have other medical problems, since the symptoms of TMD manifest in a great number of areas on the body and not only the joint. As such, they might not seek the help of a dentist in Silver Spring MD. Additionally, there are a host of other conditions (gum disease, sinus problems and toothache) that come hand-in-hand with similar symptoms, so diagnosis needs to be done carefully and precisely. Silver Spring dental practitioners typically follow this procedure in diagnosing TMD: 1. Take down your detailed medical history to make sure your symptoms aren’t likely the cause of any other medical condition. 2. Examine both of your TM joints for any tenderness and/or pain. 3. He or she will listen to the joint while you open and close your mouth to make sure they can’t hear any grating, clicking or popping sounds. 4. He or she will assess the movement of the jaw, looking out for stiffness, limited motion. 5. Your facial muscles and bite alignment will also be examined. 6. Some Silver Spring dental professional make use of full face Cone Beam CT scans to take an uncompromised look at what’s going on beneath the muscle and soft tissue. 7.In severe and persistent cases of TMD, an MRI may be needed to provide the dentist with a better view of the soft tissues in the face and jaw. This enables him or her to see if the joint is in the proper position and whether or not it is the likely cause behind the pain and discomfort the patient experiences. To find out what the dentist in Silver Spring MD has to say about what treatment options are available for TMD, stay tuned for the third installment of this four-part article series!
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This article looks at general oral health and hygiene maintenance regimens. We provide advice about what you can do at home to ensure your oral health remains in good condition and what your dentist can do to help. Feeling great about your teeth and subsequently your smile is important not only for your confidence, but it also means that your mouth is happy and healthy. Just like a home needs regular maintenance, your mouth requires and deserves an excellent standard of oral health and hygiene maintenance. In this article, Silver Spring dental experts explain what you can do from home to ensure that your teeth remain not only aesthetically pleasing, but healthy. We also explain how your dentist can aid in your dental care and maintenance. Oral Health and Hygiene: What Can I Do At Home? It all starts with you! The best thing that you can do to look after your teeth is to commit to a consistent oral hygiene routine. Here is where to start: • SPEND: Invest in a good toothbrush and good toothpaste. Seek the advice of your dentist with regard to what kind of toothpaste you should be using for your unique situation. If you have particularly sensitive teeth, you should be using toothpaste specifically designed for your needs. Silver Spring dental experts explain that if you consistently drink coffee or entertain other stain-causing habits, you should use toothpaste with whitening properties. Going to your dentist for a professional teeth cleaning and whitening procedure will be far more effective, but using whitening toothpaste will definitely help reduce the build-up of tough stains. • CONSISTENCY: A good oral hygiene routine is based on consistency. Brush, floss, rinse and scrape daily. It is recommended to brush at least twice a day, and if possible, after every meal, as food debris left behind can cause bacterial growth, which may lead to bad breath and other oral health risks. Flossing will help you get to the hard-to-reach spaces in your mouth that brushing alone does not reach. Flossing reaches the little pockets and gaps between your teeth where food debris is often left behind. Rinsing is also a beneficial step in your oral hygiene regimen. Using an anti-septic mouthwash kills germs that cause bacterial growth and plaque build-up. Many people forget to scrape their tongue during their daily regimen, and the tongue is known to harbor all sorts of bacteria and bits of food. Scraping your tongue will go a long way in ensuring your breath remains minty fresh for much longer, too. • MAINTENANCE: Go see your dentist! A Silver Spring dentist explains that although your day-to-day oral hygiene routine will do wonders for your oral health, seeing your dentist at least twice a year for general check-ups will ensure that your oral health remains in excellent condition. Also, it ensures that any problems can be dealt with before they develop into a more serious state. Oral Health and Hygiene: A Final Word By following the advice provided above, you will help to ensure that your oral health remains in the best possible condition. Your oral health is intricately linked to your general health and vice versa, so you will also be protecting the rest of your body from other health risks. This two-part article series examines a fairly common condition, dry mouth or “xerostomia” that can cause a higher risk of oral infection and tooth decay. Welcome back to our two-part article series on the causes, symptoms and consequences of “dry mouth” or “xerostomia”. In our previous article post, we spoke to a Silver Spring dental professional who discussed the symptoms of dry mouth, as well as the long-term repercussions of ignoring such a chronic condition. In this article, we’ll address two pressing questions: (1) What causes dry mouth and (2) What can be done about it? The Causes of Xerostomia 1. Lifestyle Factors: Smoking or chewing tobacco is notorious for causing dry mouth, as is alcohol. 2. Sinus Problems: Continuously breathing through your mouth causes saliva to evaporate, which can lead to dry mouth. 3. Dehydration: If your body is short of water, so will be your salivary glands. Conditions and ailments that cause dehydration can therefore also lead to dry mouth. These conditions include blood loss, diarrhea, fever, vomiting and excessive sweating. 4. Certain Medications: Many medications and over-the-counter drugs can cause xerostomia as a common side effect. These medications for allergies, anxiety, depression, epilepsy, pain, acne, hypertension, obesity, nausea, asthma, diarrhea, urinary incontinence and even Parkinson’s disease. Decongestants, antihistamines, sedatives and muscle relaxants can also cause dry mouth. 5. Certain Infections and Diseases: Xerostomia can also be a symptom of certain ailments, such as mumps, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, HIV/AIDS, anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, stroke, cystic fibrosis, Sjögren's syndrome and hypertension. 6. Certain Medical Treatments: Any procedure or treatment that risks damage to the salivary glands, such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy for cancer treatment, can compromise the healthy production of saliva, resulting in dry mouth. 7. Nerve Damage: Accidental trauma or surgery in the neck and head area can cause nerve damage that can result in dry mouth. 8. The Surgical Removal of the Salivary Glands: This might be necessary for the removal of cancerous tissue from the oral cavity. Treating Dry Mouth There are two approaches to treating dry mouth. The first is to address the immediate symptoms by keeping your mouth irrigated. Keep a bottle of water handy and take regular sips to keep your mouth moist. You can also chew sugar-free gum, which will help stimulate the production of saliva in your mouth. The second approach is to address the root cause of dry mouth. If you suspect it may be the result of a medication you’re on, speak to your doctor before you simply stop taking it. It may be possible to eliminate the problem by adjusting the dosage or swapping it for a different drug. In the case of smoking and heavy drinking, cut down or stop all together. Then, there are the preventative measures you should be taking. If you suffer from dry mouth as a result of smoking, medication, illness or any other condition, you should be going the extra mile to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Without the natural production of saliva, your mouth is extremely vulnerable to oral bacteria, which puts you at a greater risk of gingivitis, gum disease, thrush, tooth decay and cavities. Silver Spring dental professionals generally advise that you maintain a rigorous home oral hygiene routine and make regular use of an anti-bacterial mouthwash. You may even be prescribed a saliva stimulant medication, Salagen, which combats dry mouth. A Final Note on Dry Mouth “This uncomfortable condition can have some serious health impacts on your teeth and gums,” warn dentists in Silver Spring. If there is no solution to the root cause of dry mouth, then be sure to speak to your dental healthcare professional about how you can minimize the impacts upon your oral health.” |
AuthorOur multi-dentist approach means we can provide you with the best options in a single comprehensive plan, and then implement them without you having to leave your comfortable dental chair. When you're finished, you'll get one consolidated statement for each family member and one representative who can answer any questions you may have. Archives
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