A joint effort
Ever wonder how your jaws can move up and down or side to side? The answer lies in the temporomandibular jaw joints (TMJ) – the joints that connect the mouth to the skull. Healthy TMJs are also essential for proper biting, chewing and talking.
TMJ disorder
If you hear a clicking or “popping” sound when you move your jaw, you could have TMJ disorder. Other symptoms include jaw lock, swelling and pain in your neck, shoulder or back. TMJ disorder can be caused by teeth grinding, injuries or stress.
Proven treatments
Non-invasive TMJ treatments include the use of a mouthguard or ibuprofen. Surgery is also an option, but many dentists prefer to treat TMJ through conservative methods.