How your dentists in Beverly, Massachusetts can help relieve your jaw painjaw pain
If your jaw feels stiff or painful, you shouldn’t ignore it. A stiff jaw could be a sign of something more serious. The good news is a stiff, painful jaw is treatable. Your dentists Dr. Valerie Martins and Dr. Sukhpreet Heer at Martins Dental Partners in Beverly, Massachusetts want to share the facts about getting relief for your jaw stiffness.
One of the most common reasons for jaw stiffness is grinding or clenching your teeth. If you wake up in the morning with a stiff jaw, it’s a good indicator you are grinding your teeth at night. You may also be clenching your teeth together during the day if you are under stress.
Grinding and clenching are common issues to deal with. Your dentists at Martins Dental Partners can make you a custom-fit nightguard. The nightguard relaxes your jaws and keeps you from damaging your teeth. Custom night guards are comfortable because they fit you exactly, unlike generic nightguards you can buy at the store.
You may also experience jaw pain from jaw joint problems. The temporomandibular joint, also called the TMJ, is the joint that helps you open and close your jaws, so it does a lot of work for you. The joint can become inflamed or easily displaced, resulting in friction and increased wear-and-tear. This all leads to more inflammation, stiffness and pain.
You may have TMJ problems if you notice:
- Popping or clicking sounds when you chew
- Jaw locking when you open your mouth
- Chronic earaches or headaches
- Jaw stiffness or pain that radiates to other areas of your face
There are several effective treatments to deal with TMJ stiffness and pain. Your dentists in Beverly may suggest:
- A custom bite guard or night splint
- Hot and cold therapies
- Jaw stretching exercises or physical therapy
- Anti-inflammatory or pain medications
if you suffer from jaw stiffness or pain, you can get relief with just a phone call. The experts at Martins Dental Partners are standing by to help. For more information on jaw issues and other dental services, call or schedule an appointment with the dentists at Martins Dental Partners in Beverly, Massachusetts today!
