{"id":104,"date":"2021-12-21T05:05:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-21T05:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ornelasfamilydentistry.com\/blog\/?p=104"},"modified":"2022-01-21T05:06:23","modified_gmt":"2022-01-21T05:06:23","slug":"5-dangers-of-not-treating-your-tmj-pain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ornelasfamilydentistry.com\/blog\/2021\/12\/21\/5-dangers-of-not-treating-your-tmj-pain\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Dangers of Untreated TMJ Pain"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-105\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ornelasfamilydentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/consultation-6-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"Dentist explaining TMJ pain to woman in chair\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ornelasfamilydentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/consultation-6-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.ornelasfamilydentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/consultation-6-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/www.ornelasfamilydentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/consultation-6-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ornelasfamilydentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/consultation-6-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ornelasfamilydentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/consultation-6.jpg 1053w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>Your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is located on either side of your face, connecting your jaw to your skull. It allows you to make certain movements necessary for everyday life, like speaking, chewing, and yawning. Unfortunately, these motions aren\u2019t easy for everyone. 12% of adults live with chronic jaw pain. If you have a TMJ disorder, you might believe the clicking sounds and facial pain are only a nuisance, but you\u2019re at risk of several complications without any treatment. Here\u2019s what you need to know about the consequences of ignoring your TMJ pain.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Risks of Untreated TMJ Disorders<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) causes a variety of symptoms triggered by inflammation, stress, or damage to the jaw. It can cause several issues that affect your quality of life, like facial pain and tenderness, difficulty chewing, or toothaches. It\u2019s not uncommon to hear a clicking, popping, or grating sound when opening and closing your mouth. In some cases, your jaw may even lock in an opened or closed position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While you can push through the pain, you\u2019re at risk of serious complications without the proper treatment. Although TMD isn\u2019t life-threatening, here\u2019s how it can affect you over time:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Sleep Disturbances<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Research has found over 50% of patients with TMD also have poor sleep quality attributed to the chronic pain and psychological stress. Both factors can also increase the prevalence of bruxism. The habitual grinding and clenching can make it almost impossible to get a good night\u2019s rest. Instead of a reoccurring morning headache, you can also struggle with daily fatigue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Dental Problems<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>TMD and bruxism often coincide, which can lead to dental damage. The pressure from the grinding can cause enamel erosion, loose teeth, and even tooth loss. A nightguard provides a cushion between the upper and lower teeth to protect your smile from unnecessary complications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Asymmetrical Muscle Growth<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When jaw pain is only experienced on one side, asymmetrical muscle growth can occur if you tend to favor the right or left when chewing. The imbalance will lead to a weaker muscle on one side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Tinnitus<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Chronic TMD can cause ringing or buzzing in the ears, called tinnitus. The constant ringing can contribute to stress, fatigue, depression, and memory problems. You can also experience increased anxiety and irritability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Malnourishment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If your jaw hurts, you may not want to eat, which can lead to malnourishment if you\u2019re not careful. Despite the discomfort, it\u2019s essential you maintain a balanced diet by choosing softer foods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You don\u2019t have to live with the challenges of TMD. Your dentist offers the solutions you need with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ornelasfamilydentistry.com\/tmjtmd-therapy.html\">TMJ therapy<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>About Dr. Joe Ornelas<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ornelasfamilydentistry.com\/meet-the-dentist.html\">Dr. Ornelas<\/a> earned his dental degree at the Indiana University School of Dentistry before continuing his education in advanced services, like TMJ therapy. He is a member of various professional organizations, including the American Dental Association and the Indiana Dental Association. If you\u2019re ready to stop your jaw pain and avoid the dangers of TMD, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ornelasfamilydentistry.com\/contact-us.html\">contact our office<\/a> today to schedule an appointment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is located on either side of your face, connecting your jaw to your skull. It allows you to make certain movements necessary for everyday life, like speaking, chewing, and yawning. Unfortunately, these motions aren\u2019t easy for everyone. 12% of adults live with chronic jaw pain. If you have a TMJ disorder, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[2],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>5 Hidden Dangers of Not Treating Your TMJ Pain<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"TMJ pain can negatively affect your quality of life, but that\u2019s not all. Here are 5 complications you can experience without any TMD therapy.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ornelasfamilydentistry.com\/blog\/2021\/12\/21\/5-dangers-of-not-treating-your-tmj-pain\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"5 Hidden Dangers of Not Treating Your TMJ Pain\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"TMJ pain can negatively affect your quality of life, but that\u2019s not all. 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