Headaches, Jaw Pain, and Poor Sleep? Your TMJ Might Be the Missing Link

If you keep waking up from a night of poor sleep or experience headaches or jaw pain seemingly out of nowhere, you may be experiencing temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction. Your temporomandibular joint can impact you as you speak and eat, but it can also affect your rest. Read on to learn more about this issue and how to address it. 

How TMJ Affects More Than Just Your Jaw

What is TMJ disorder? Your temporomandibular joint is a hinge that connects your skull and lower jaw. You have two of them, one on each side of your jaw. Any disorder that impacts these joints can cause jaw misalignments that strain muscles and other joints. 

TMJ disorders can rapidly result in jaw pain that radiates up to become headaches, facial aches, and tension throughout your body. 

The poor sleep you may experience also affects the rest of your body, resulting in a deterioration of your general wellness. Every day can seem hard to get through because of discomfort and exhaustion. 

The Link Between TMJ and Poor Sleep 

One of the links that many people may not be aware of is how their temporomandibular joint pain can cause sleep issues. It can affect jaw alignment, which could obstruct your airways and make breathing more difficult. It’s common for people with TMJ issues to struggle with snoring.

TMJ disorders are often connected with sleep apnea, tying into sleep dentistry needs. If your jaw is misaligned, the breathing obstructions could cause you to stop breathing while you sleep. Your body will wake you up when this happens, leading to broken sleep.

Unconsciously clenching and grinding your teeth, which can occur in those who have TMJ disorders, can also disrupt sleep cycles. Not being able to go through all of the stages of sleep can affect your overall well-being. 

Common Symptoms to Watch For 

There are a few TMJ symptoms to be aware of. Jaw and face pain are some of the most common ones, but you can also experience the sensation of your jaw locking in place, causing you to struggle to open it. You may also experience ringing in your ears and earaches, as well as tooth pain and persistent neck or shoulder pain. 

Clicking, grinding, or popping sounds are also issues you could struggle with, along with feelings of exhaustion from lack of proper sleep. Headaches and even migraines could be significant enough to affect your daily life. 

How Neuromuscular Dentistry Helps 

Neuromuscular dentistry is a dental approach that focuses on the relationship between jaw muscles, teeth, and the TMJ. The goal of neuromuscular dentistry is to help you find a relaxed and natural resting position for your lower jaw so that you can avoid tension, bite problems, and pain. 

Neuromuscular dentistry relies on numerous tools to accomplish these goals. One of the most common is transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), which offers ultra-low-frequency electrical pulses for muscle relaxation and to assist in finding the right bite alignment. 

TENS targets the cranial nerves, which control the face and jaw. The electrical pulses assist in easing spasms associated with TMJ disorders. 

Long-Term Relief With Custom Oral Appliances 

TMJ treatments vary, but some of the most trusted are custom oral appliances. A common cause of TMJ disorders is bruxism, or grinding your teeth. Wearing a mouth guard while you sleep can help prevent the pressure and stress that grinding causes to your teeth and TMJ. 

Custom oral appliances can also help to evenly distribute bite force throughout your jaw. This relieves some of the intense pressure you may experience while also guiding the lower jaw to rest in a more relaxed, natural alignment that doesn’t strain soft tissues. 

Restorative dentistry for TMJ makes it easier to understand what may be causing the problem while also finding the right way to distribute jaw pressure.
With an appropriate appliance, you can experience reduced pain and better sleep, which improves your overall wellness. 

Addressing TMJ Pain With the Right Treatment Strategies

TMJ pain can lower your quality of life. You could end up struggling to get a good night’s rest and could find it difficult to speak or eat. If that is the case, it can help to trust the experts in restorative dentistry. 

At Dallas Cosmetic Dental, we offer an array of services that could assist with the TMJ disorder symptoms you may be experiencing. We provide comprehensive assessments to address the underlying cause of the TMJ disorder so that you can obtain the relief you deserve. Schedule an appointment to speak with our dentist about your symptoms.