What Causes Tight Jaw Muscles?

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a ball-and-socket joint like the ones in your shoulders. Just like other parts of the body, your jaw can fall victim to tension and overexertion. It’s important to note that one issue may not be the sole reason for tight jaw muscles. Stress, anxiety, grinding your teeth, and medical conditions such as arthritis can all contribute to tightness in your jaw. 

What are the Symptoms of Tight Jaw Muscles? 

While jaw tension can be hard to identify, identifying telltale symptoms early on may help to prevent more severe conditions later on. Common symptoms include:

• Jaw pain: A persistent, aching feeling in your jaw area is a clear sign of muscle tension.
• Headaches: Tension in the jaw may radiate to the temples, causing an increase in dull, throbbing headaches. 
• Clicking or popping sounds: If your jaw clicks or pops when you open and close your mouth, you may be suffering from muscle tension.
• Difficulty opening or closing the mouth: Tight muscles in your jaw may restrict your range of motion. 
• Facial discomfort: Discomfort in the cheeks or around the ears can be linked to jaw tension.

How to Loosen Tight Jaw Muscles

It’s essential to familiarize yourself with relief methods you can use in your day-to-day routine. Be sure to try a variety of techniques to find the best solution for your jaw pain. 

Heat and Cold Therapy

Rotating between hot and cold compresses can help to reduce inflammation in your jaw. Also known as contrast therapy, ice packs will decrease blood flow, while warm compresses increase it. Alternating the two helps to reduce inflammation, encourage circulation, and loosen tight muscles. 

Stretching Exercises

Simple jaw-stretching exercises promote flexibility and work to relieve tension in your jaw muscles. Performing stretching exercises two times daily for 30 seconds works to release the muscles in your jaw without causing you too much pain. 

Relaxation Techniques

You may notice that your jaw clenches throughout the day—sometimes without you even noticing. Introducing mindfulness, meditation, or breathing exercises into your daily routine gives you an opportunity to reconnect with yourself and notice any areas of tension. These techniques serve as a gentle reminder to unclench your jaw muscles and any other parts of your body where you’re holding stress. 

Diet and Hydration

Alleviate jaw tension by staying hydrated and away from hard-to-chew foods. You’ll want to avoid excessively chewy, crispy, crunchy, and tough foods that could put extra strain on your jaw muscles. 

Posture Correction

Poor posture can lead to a list of complications, including increased tension in your jaw muscles. Positions, where your head leans forward for extended periods of time (i.e. sitting at a desk), put extra strain on your neck and jaw, leading to pain or difficulty opening your jaw. 

Seeking Professional Help

If you’re experiencing persistent or severe jaw muscle tightness and associated symptoms, seeking professional help is essential. Dentists, orthodontists, and physical therapists can offer valuable guidance and work to find the source of your jaw pain. They may recommend treatments such as splints, dental adjustments, or specialized exercises that address your pain and discomfort. 

Find Jaw Relief with Carolina TMJ

Take back your life when you work with our team at Carolina TMJ & Facial Pain Center. We work diligently to address our patients’ concerns and identify solutions to alleviate jaw pain. Schedule your appointment today.

The post How to Loosen and Relieve Tension in Tight Jaw Muscles appeared first on Carolina TMJ & Facial Pain Center.

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) facilitates movement in the lower jaw with the help of the articular disc. Lockjaw is a symptom of a dysfunctional TMJ, making it difficult to open or close your lower jaw.

What is Lockjaw?

Lockjaw is a condition in which the lower jaw gets stuck in an open or closed position.

• Closed lock: Most commonly identified when a person is experiencing difficulty opening their mouth. The mouth is unable to open to the standard 2-inch distance between the upper and lower teeth, typically limited to around one inch.
• Open lock: People experiencing an open lock are unable to close their jaw to bring their teeth together.

How Does a Closed Lockjaw Happen?

The articular disc is an elastic piece of cartilage wedged between two elements in the TMJ. It enables smooth, flexible movement of the lower jaw and is held in place by ligaments. TMJ disorders, periodontal infections, or previous injuries can damage the ligaments, increasing the chances of an articular disc displacement. Hearing clicks or pops upon movement of the jaw often indicates that the articular disc isn’t functioning correctly.

Lockjaw occurs when the articular disc isn’t pulled back into place, resulting in the lower jaw getting stuck. While relatively uncommon, closed locks can be treated.

What Can I Do to Unlock My Locked Jaw?

You can do a few things at home to unlock your jaw, but it’s critical to see a TMJ specialist if they don’t work. Some closed locks won’t resolve on their own, meaning time is of the essence for treatment.

Try to Stay Calm

Your jaw is less likely to unlock if the muscles are clenched from stress. Try to stay calm to avoid adding more tension to the joint.

Apply a Warm Compress

Apply heat to your jaw for 10-15 minutes to help ease tension and reduce muscle spasms. A warm compress should always be applied before you attempt to massage or unlock your jaw. You can do this multiple times a day to help manage your locked jaw.

Massage Your Jaw

A gentle massage can improve blood flow and reduce tension in the lower jaw. Place 2-3 fingers just below your cheekbone and knead in circular motions for a few minutes. Afterward, gently try to move your jaw from side to side.

Treating a Closed Lock Jaw

The best chance for unlocking occurs within the first few days, so contacting a TMJ doctor as soon as the lock occurs is crucial. 30-day treatment with custom orthotics and closed lock procedures will help reduce inflammation, and in some cases, the normal range of motion may be restored. Over 30 days decrease the chances of being unlocked secondary to disc changes.

It’s important to understand that once unlocked, you may develop a clicking or popping sound on the side that was locked. Below is a list of treatment recommendations for a closed lock:

• Removable Orthotics
• Low-Level Light Therapy (LLLT)
• Trigger Point Therapy
• Physical Therapy
• Injection Therapy
• Botox Injections (after inflammation is reduced)

How Carolina TMJ Can Help

If you’re experiencing pain or discomfort from TMJ dysfunction, consider visiting a dentist trained in TMJ disorders. Visit Dr. Tracy Davidian to learn more and find an appropriate treatment plan for you.

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You’re probably familiar with Botox and its cosmetic uses, but most don’t consider its other applications for medical treatment. Medical botox can help to treat a variety of medical problems related to mouth, jaw and head pain.

What Exactly is Botox?

Botox is derived from the botulinum toxin (BoNT) that’s produced by the Clostridium botulinum bacterium. The botulinum toxin has many medical uses and was originally used to treat strabismus, also known as crossed eyes. Over time, these patients reported fewer headaches in conjunction with their treatment, opening an opportunity for Botox to be used in other applications.

How Does Botox Work?

Once injected, Botox blocks chemical signals that often tell our muscles to move or send pain transmissions. By temporarily blocking these signals, the muscle will be paralyzed for a short period of time—alleviating pain and tension.

TMJ Botox Treatments

Although Botox can be applied in multiple areas of the body, Carolina TMJ focuses on Botox treatments for medical issues that include:

• Chronic migraines and headaches
• TMJ
• Jaw pain
• Bruxism

Are Medical Botox Treatments Right for Me?

It’s important to consult a professional about your options to know if medical Botox is the right choice for you. Botox should only be administered by licensed professionals who will assess your needs and perform the procedure safely and correctly.

Alleviate Your Pain with Carolina TMJ

Suffering from TMJ or jaw pain? Contact us today to learn more about Botox and how treatments with Carolina TMJ can help.

The post How Can Botox Help with Headaches and Jaw Pain? appeared first on Carolina TMJ & Facial Pain Center.

Reasons For Jaw Pain

Typically, jaw pain after a dental procedure is the result of a chronic or underlying jaw condition. Here are the most common reasons for jaw pain and how we diagnose these conditions:

1. Trismus  

This is the involuntary contraction of the jaw muscles, sometimes due to inflammation of those muscles. This inflammation will contribute to muscle irritation and spasm. Trismus is typically treated with muscle relaxers, NSAIDs, and jaw stretches. When this becomes chronic in nature, or the above treatments do not seem to do the trick, patients come to see me for relief.

2. Temporal Tendonitis

Temporal tendonitis is the inflammation of the temporal tendon which connects the temporal muscle on the side of the head to the mandible. Symptoms of temporal tendonitis can include: 

• Limitation in opening the mouth
• Pain/pressure behind the eye
• Temporal head pain that can radiate to the forehead
• Ear pain/congestion
• Pain/swelling in the cheek
• Teeth sensitivity

Occlusal wear (loss of tooth structure) on a patient’s teeth, possible arthritis occurring in a patient’s joint, or a history of clenching can all contribute to temporal tendon inflammation. This condition is harder to treat through medication alone, and we have several ways that we treat this condition successfully in our practice every day. Proper diagnosing is crucial as a first step, as it allows us to create a more effective treatment plan.

3. Arthritic Joint

It is possible that you had an arthritic process already occurring in one or both of your temporomandibular joints, and the dental procedure aggravated both your joint and the soft tissue supporting your joint. Your temporomandibular joint is used more than any other joint in your body, and it can develop the same issues as your other joints, including arthritis. 

We have a protocol we follow for most of our patients with arthritic joints. It can involve custom orthotic therapy, injection therapy, and/or medication, and there are instances that we will refer a patient for further x-rays or MRI. 

4. Closed Locked

Although it is a rare occurrence, it is true that a patient can become locked after a dental procedure. The reason this happens is based upon how the patient’s joint relates to the articular disc prior to the dental appointment. Here is the ideal joint/disc relationship and a view of the anterior displaced disc/joint:

Many patients come in with a disc anteriorly positioned to the joint without actual joint pain.  These are patients that have clicks or pops when opening/closing, chewing, etc, but have no pain with the click. It is usually inflammation or a change in the shape of the disc that causes a patient to lock closed (the joint not able to reduce or click onto the disc). 

When this occurs, pain will follow along with a limitation of opening and movement of the jaw. Often these patients share that their jaw clicked prior to the dental procedure, but now no longer clicks and they are now very limited in opening and have moderate to severe discomfort when attempting to open.

Let Dr. Davidian Relieve Your Jaw Pain

As you can see, there are many reasons why your jaw may now feel discomfort after a dental procedure or extraction. If you have attempted to resolve this discomfort and have been unsuccessful, you are not alone. We’re here to help you find relief. You can contact our office and schedule your appointment by calling us at 919-782-9955 or requesting an appointment online. We look forward to meeting you and helping you become pain free.

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Midtown Magazine featured Dr. Tracy Davidian of Carolina TMJ & Facial Pain Center in their 2021 Meet The Doctors series. This annual series highlights some of the most exceptional healthcare providers in the Triangle. 

Averaging over 140,000 readers for each issue and nearly one million readers annually, Midtown Magazine is a respected voice in the Raleigh area. Dr. Davidian is honored to be included in 2021 Meet The Doctors. 
You can pick up the September/October 2021 issue with Dr. Davidian’s feature at over 500 local businesses, at Midtown and Cary Living events, or with a subscription to the magazine.

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“My ear hurts but I have gone to the doctor several times begging for an antibiotic and he keeps telling me that my ear looks fine!”
This is more common than you may think.  Many of my patients have complained about this.  They present with severe ear pain and pressure, some eye pain or pressure, pain around the temple area, and sometimes sensitive upper teeth.  How could this not be an infection of some sort….right?  Well the truth is, you may be suffering from temporal tendonitis.

What is Temporal Tendonitis?

Temporal tendonitis is a craniofacial pain disorder which results in the inflammation of the temporal tendon which connects the temporalis muscle on the side of the head to the mandible, or lower jaw, on the coronoid process.

After our examination, I usually discover signs of occlusal wear on a patient’s teeth, possible arthritis occurring in a patients joint, or a history of clenching.  All of these, and other predisposed conditions, can contribute to temporal tendon inflammation.

If a patient has an irritated temporal tendon prior to a dental procedure (or any of the other reasons listed above), it is more likely that they will develop a tendonitis after the procedure is completed (or after taxing the tendon through normal function: yawning, eating, etc).

What Causes Temporal Tendonitis?

You may develop temporal tendonitis from:

• Trauma to the side of your face/head
• Being opened really wide for a long period of time for a dental procedure
• Yawning really wide
• Eating very hard foods
• Loss of vertical dimension of occlusion (the distance between your nose and chin is shorter than it was when you were younger – you are becoming over-closed)
• Chronic parafunction (your bite is off and your teeth do not come together appropriately)
• Hypertrophy of the coronoid process (your coronoid process, a part of your lower jaw, becomes larger than it once was)

Temporal Tendonitis Symptoms

If you have one or more of the causes of temporal tendonitis listed above and experience one or more of these symptoms, it’s time to give us a call:

• TMJ pain
• Eye pain
• Ear pain and pressure or congestion
• Limitation in opening the mouth
• Pain/pressure behind the eye
• Temporal head pain that can radiate to the forehead
• Pain and/or swelling in the cheek
• Sensitivity of the teeth, particularly the upper maxillary teeth

How Do You Treat Temporal Tendonitis?

Treatment of temporal tendonitis can involve multiple processes such as:

• Anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen
• Muscle relaxants
• A soft diet
• Splints/orthotics
• Physical therapy
• Biofeedback if clenching related
• Injection therapy with a long lasting local anesthetic and a steroid, sarapin, or prolotherapy

Temporal tendonitis is harder to treat through medication alone.  We have several ways that we treat this condition successfully in our practice every day.  Proper diagnosing is crucial and allows us to create your ideal treatment plan.

If you believe that you may be suffering from Temporal Tendonitis, we can help you! Call us today for an evaluation and treatment and be done with that ear pain once and for all!

Dr. Tracy Davidian

Fellow of the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain

Fellow of the Las Vegas Institute of Neuromuscular Dentistry

919-366-PAIN (7246)

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What Causes Teeth to Yellow?
There are many types of teeth stains; some are caused by a person’s genetics, environmental or pharmacological in nature. The most common type is surface stains on the enamel or beneath the enamel. Surface stains are caused by foods, beverages and lifestyle behaviors, like smoking. Teeth whitening can help reverse some of the damage, however results vary by person.

Over time, surface stains can penetrate the teeth’s enamel and change the color of the dentin, which darkens the overall appearance of the tooth due to the translucency of the enamel layer. When this occurs, the tooth may appear yellow.
Zoom Teeth Whitening
Dr. Davidian provides safe, effective, and top-of-the-line teeth whitening service. This quick, in-office procedure offers the best results for whiter teeth. Zoom® teeth whitening addresses the aesthetic discoloration of your teeth that comes naturally over time. This quick in-office procedure can lighten your teeth by six to ten shades in one visit, giving you a brighter, whiter smile.

A white bright smile can be a confidence booster and a great way to get noticed. Depending on our everyday choices, we may not have the smile we always wanted. Wine, smoking, tea, soda and other foods and beverages can cause teeth staining.

There are countless ways to remove surface stains by using abrasion or through a chemical reaction, like:

• Whitening toothpastes that contain silica molecules that polish the enamel.
• Rechargeable toothbrushes that use the action of the bristles on the tooth surface to remove the stains.
• Whitening products that include hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide cause a chemical reaction that breaks apart the carbon bonds that create yellow stains. Once the bonds are broken, they no longer reflect a yellow color.

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Dr. Tracy Davidian is bringing revolutionary sleep treatments to the Triangle. Dr. Davidian uses state-of-the-art technology to treat snoring and sleep apnea.

Sleep disorders are a bigger problem than most people think. Disorders like sleep apnea disrupt more than just a good night’s sleep and hard day’s work. Over time, it’s a risk factor for heart attack, stroke, diabetes and other serious conditions.

Oral Appliance Therapy

Oral appliance therapy is an effective treatment option for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). A custom-fit oral sleep appliance can improve your sleep, restore your alertness and revitalize your health.

Worn only during sleep, an oral appliance fits like a sports mouth guard or an orthodontic retainer. It supports the jaw in a forward position to help maintain an open upper airway.

Research shows that oral appliance therapy is an effective treatment option for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.

Benefits of Oral Appliance Therapy

Oral appliance therapy is an effective, non-invasive treatment that fits easily into your lifestyle. More than 100 oral appliances have received FDA clearance.

Our patients like oral appliance therapy because it is:

• Comfortable
• Easy to wear
• Quiet
• Portable
• Convenient for travel
• Easy to care for

Dr. Davidian’s Approach

Dr. Davidian uses state-of-the-art technology to treat your sleep apnea. Carolina TMJ & Facial Pain Center puts a patient’s physiology into the equation. Dr Davidian, a Fellow in Neuromuscular Dentistry, uses a K-7 Evaluation system in order to capture a positive physiologic position of a patient’s lower jaw. This position is then transferred to the patient’s night appliance.

The Physiologic Night Appliance is worn during sleep to move the lower jaw forward, thus keeping the airway open and allowing for normal breathing.

Dr. Davidian customizes these devices to each patient, resulting in superior comfort and quality.

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More than 15 percent of American adults suffer from chronic facial pain, such as jaw pain, headaches or earaches.
To understand the reasons for Facial Pain, you must first understand the different types of Muscular Disorders that can lead to Facial Pain.  There are 6 different categories of Muscular Disorders: Muscle Splinting, Muscle Spasm, Myositis, Fibrous Contracture, Myofascial Pain Dysfunction (MPD), and Fibromyalgia.

Muscle Pain that causes Facial Pain is termed as myalgia.  Facial pain resulting from myalgia is usually from stretching, forceful or sustained contraction, ischemia, hyperemia, or trauma and inflammation.

Muscle Splinting is protective response of our muscles.  Opposite or different muscle groups begin to fire during movement n an attempt to protect the injured part which can also cause facial pain.  (Example: if there is trauma within the Temporomandibular Joint or muscles involved in opening your mouth, the opposite muscles (muscles that are used to close your mouth) will begin firing; thus creating Muscle Splinting which can lead to Facial Pain)  If Muscle Splinting is left untreated the this can lead to Muscle Spasm.

Muscle Spasm is the result of a muscle or muscle group consistently firing (working) and unable to relax.  In this situation, Facial Pain can develop producing a cycling mechanism that tends to perpetuate the condition indefinitely, even after the initiating cause has been eliminated.  When the muscle is under continued contraction it produces bi-products.  Those bi-products are lactic acid, inorganic phosphates, etc.  This collection of toxins within the body can lead to persistent Facial Pain, even after the Spasm has been eliminated.  The resulting diagnosis is Myositis.

Myositis can be defined as a localized inflammation of a muscle.  There are several different causes to myositis: trauma, infection, prolonged Muscle Spasm, and overuse.  If a Myositis is left untreated the resulting Facial Pain would then become termed as Fibrous Contracture.

Patients diagnosed with Fibrous Contracture run the risk of have permanent restriction of motion in the affected area; which can lead to chronic facial pain.

Myofacial Pain Dysfunction (MPD) is Facial Pain of the muscle and its fascia which is characterized by the presence of trigger points.  A trigger point is defined as a hyperirritable spot within a tight band of skeletal muscle or in the muscle’s fascia.  This area can create Facial Pain on compression and can give rise to characteristic referred pain (Facial Pain in other areas), tenderness, and autonomic phenomena (skin turning red, patient sweating when it is compressed, light headedness).

Fibromyalgia is a common rheumatoid disorder of the muscles and bones that does not involve the joints.  It can be described as pain in three of the four quadrants of the body, has been present for three months or longer, and the patient typically complains of arthralgic-like pain with no evidence of articular disorders.

Now that you have read and learned about the different types of Muscular Disorders that can lead to Facial Pain, you can begin to appreciate the importance of obtaining a proper diagnosis and  understanding that just by eliminating the source of your Facial Pain may not be enough to eliminate your Facial Pain.

I look forward to sharing treatment options for these different diagnoses on future blogs.

Helping Patients Live Pain-Free…

Dr Tracy Davidian

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