JAW AND ORDER

IT’S IMPORTANT TO GET TO THE ROOT CAUSE OF YOUR PAIN

Maybe you’re biting into your lunch and you notice your jaw won’t stop clicking, or perhaps you wake up in the morning unable to open your mouth without pain.

Most of us have experienced clicking, grinding, tension and even pain, but as jaw pain can affect how we eat, speak and sleep, knowing the underlying causes can prevent a lot of health problems. We asked Dr Sam Guirguis, lead dentist at Natural Dentistry in Sydney, to help wrap our heads around the causes and what you can do about it.

TMD

Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) is the leading cause of jaw pain. “TMD is a condition that affects the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), the joint that connects the jaw to the skull,” explains Dr Guirguis.

“TMD can result in symptoms such as jaw pain, difficulty when chewing, clicking or popping sounds and headaches.”

According to the TMJ Centre Melbourne, TMD affects 20-30 per cent of the adult population but is most common in women and people between the ages of 20 and 40.

STRESS

If you’re a stress head, chances are you’re familiar with muscle tension around your shoulders and neck. Similarly, this tension can occur in the face and neck.