It can be challenging to find relief if you are experiencing pain due to periodontitis or Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ). Fortunately, you can take some procedures to manage your symptoms and return to feeling comfortable in your mouth. Let us look at how dental experts can assist with these problems.
Managing Periodontitis
Periodontal disease is a serious gum infection affecting gums and bone-supporting teeth. It is caused by bacteria found in plaque that accumulates on teeth over time. Periodontal disease can cause tooth loss and other major health problems if left without treatment.
The best way to manage a periodontal disease is through regular cleanings with the help of a periodontist Owings Mills and daily brushing, as well as flossing at home. This will help keep bacteria levels under control and lower the possibility of further damage.
Night Guards for Grinding & Clenching
Clenching or grinding your teeth while sleeping is called bruxism, which often leads to temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ). TMJ is characterized by jaw pain, earache, headache, neck pain, or facial discomfort. Dental experts may suggest putting on a nightguard to combat these symptoms when you sleep.
Night guards serve as protection between your upper and lower teeth to ensure that they avoid contact with each other during the night time. This helps in reducing the tension in your jaw muscles that contribute to TMJ pain. For those who experience overnight teeth grinding, a dentist providing night guards can be the best option for treatment.
Dental Botox Treatments for TMJ
If you have opted for wearing a nightguard but still experience jaw pain from TMJ, then dental Botox could be your answer. Dental Botox injections are used to loosen up the jaw muscles that cause discomfort caused by TMJ or bruxism-related issues such as headaches or neck aches.
Dental Botox procedures are risk-free, non-invasive procedures administered by experienced dentists specializing in this type of therapy. If you do want to learn more about why dental Botox is such an effective method of treating jaw discomfort, you can research more about it and follow link presented here.
Tips to Reduce Symptoms of TMJ Disorders
You can take some simple measures to alleviate the signs and symptoms associated with TMJ disorders. Amongst them are:
Avoid Overuse of Jaw Muscles
This includes talking for long periods, chewing gum, teeth grinding at night (bruxism), or consuming solid foods like nuts, apples, carrots, and more. If you think that you might be overusing your jaw muscles during these tasks, restricting or avoiding them completely is crucial to give your jaw a chance to rest and recuperate.
Stretching and Massage
Stretching and massage techniques can aid in easing tension in the jaw muscles and minimize pain associated with TMJ disorders. Some simple stretches that may serve to help consist of the following:
- Gently open and close your mouth while pressing on your chin with your fingers
- Stretching the sides by placing two fingers on either side of your face and pushing outward
- Pressing down on your lower jaw with both hands while attempting to open your mouth wide
Final Thoughts
Managing periodontitis does not have to be complicated if you take the necessary actions, such as seeing your dentist regularly for cleanings and brushing/flossing at home daily. For those who struggle with bruxism-related symptoms, using nightguards while sleeping will help in reducing tension in jaw muscles. Suppose these solutions do not give enough relief from discomfort caused by TMJ.
Dental Botox treatments may be an alternative worth looking into with a dentist like McDonogh Dental, which specializes in this kind of treatment. With proper management of periodontitis and relief from symptoms of TMJ, it is possible to get back on the right track toward healthy oral hygiene routines.
