The jaw is a bone located in the middle and lower part of the face. It supports the teeth, muscles and tissues that help in movement, speaking, swallowing and chewing food. It is also an important part of the facial structure that shows the identity of each person and also affects the beauty as well.
Symptoms of Temporomandibular Joint Disorder
- Pain in the jaw joint (in front of the ear) or in the muscles used for chewing.
- Limited mouth opening or closing (restricted jaw movement)
- When moving the jaw, there is an abnormal sound at the jaw joint, such as a clicking sound or a crunching sound.
- Open, close and move your mouth, and have pain or soreness in your jaw.
- Difficulty chewing food or pain when chewing
- Lockjaw (unable to open mouth or unable to close mouth when opening)
- There is a condition of the jaw joint that may cause the mouth to be either closed or open.
- Patients may present with pain on one side of the face.
- Headache (often thought to be a symptom of migraine), earache, ทางเข้า ufabet, and pain behind the eyes.
The effects of having abnormal jawbones include:
- Malocclusion affects chewing or swallowing.
- Inability to close the lips completely, difficulty closing the lips, causing unclear speech, reduced confidence
- Snoring is found in patients with retraction of the jaw, increasing the risk of developing sleep apnea.
There is no definite treatment, but there are several ways to relieve symptoms, as follows:
- Taking painkillers, muscle relaxants, and anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce muscle pain.
- Wearing a device to prevent impact on the upper and lower teeth.
- Relaxation to control tension in the jaw muscles, such as being careful about teeth grinding and biting on hard objects.
- Apply hot/cold compresses
- Eat soft foods. Cut food into small pieces for easy chewing. Avoid chewing gum.
- Be careful not to engage in habits or behaviors that put additional stress on your jaw joints, such as clenching your teeth or biting hard objects.
Although the problem of abnormal jawbones may not be an illness or abnormal condition that needs to be urgently corrected, this problem affects your lifestyle and overall quality of life, from eating, speaking, communication, to personality and beauty.