For many patients suffering from TMJ disorders, the condition keeps coming and going, which might be hectic to comprehend when it’s mild or severe. However, severe cases of TMJ flare-ups can affect your aspect of life and may leave you groaning in pain for days. Luckily, with Gaithersburg TMJ treatments, you have assured recovery from this deadly condition within a few appointments.

Although some people opt for home remedies to relieve mild symptoms, this only worsens their conditions since the issue is not solved from the root cause. For this reason, it’s crucial that you know all the details about TMJ disorders and why treatments are the best options to stabilize your state.

Understanding TMJ disorders

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the hinge in front of your ears and is responsible for opening and closing your jaws. This is one of the most complex joints in your body as it involves muscles, joints, and ligaments in its functionality. Additionally, TMJ disorders are one of the primary causes of discomfort and pain that affect many Americans. You may suffer a TMJ disorder if you’re experiencing swelling, stiffness, popping, or persistent pain. However, a medical evaluation is necessary anytime you experience discomfort in your TMJ joint. Here are the top five things that could flare up TMJ.

1. Stress

The truth remains that stress does no good to your overall health. When you are experiencing stressful situations, you are more likely to suffer TMJ problems. When stressed, muscle tension increases, especially on your head, shoulders, and neck, leading to severe joint swelling. Furthermore, stress comes in handy with grinding your teeth and sleeplessness, which can also worsen your condition.

2. Supersizing your jaws

If You exaggerate jaw movements, especially when eating hard food, yelling, or singing increases your risk of TMJ disorders. Also, opening your mouth wide when biting snacks like burgers can strain the TMJ joint, leaving you in pain. To guarantee your safety, ensure you don’t engage in activities that stretch out your jaws; if you must, do it carefully.

3. Poor posture

Believe it or not, your posture doesn’t only affect your lower back but also causes TMJ pain. If you are fond of sitting for long hours, this can lead to a misaligned spine, resulting in protruding jaws that affect your TMJ. So, you should listen to your doctors and sit upright or take breaks to relax your spine.

4. Arthritis-related TMJ damage

You, too, could be wondering how arthritis can develop in your jaws. However, if you suffer from osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and Psoriatic arthritis, chances are high that your TMJ disorder may worsen. Therefore, seeking arthritis treatments is essential to stay on the safer side.

5. Hormonal changes

Sudden shifts in your hormonal levels can result in severe joint inflammation. The case is no different with your jaw since inflammation can cause swelling in that area. This is common in women who experience hormonal changes during pregnancy and menstrual periods.

TMJ disorders can affect your quality of life, especially if symptoms are severe. Therefore, you must seek medical attention when the signs are mild to help stabilize your situation beforehand. Furthermore, some of its causes are natural and might affect you without your knowledge. Constantly get TMJ checkups to help seek early treatments in case of any arising disorders.