It’s a time of year that we take stock of our lives and our many blessings. Sure, there’s quite a bit of preparation involved in planning various Thanksgiving weekend festivities. But when everything is said and done, it’s all worth it.
That’s because all the cleaning, recipe perfecting, cooking, baking, hosting, and shopping lead to a peaceful, enjoyable time with close family and friends.
But nothing can turn all of that upside down quite like painful, nagging headaches. You can handle the responsibilities of the holiday and making sure everything is just right when your home fills with people. Pain and muscle tension, however, makes these responsibilities far more burdensome than they already are.
TMJ disorder is the kind of condition that can spoil a good time. Cosmetic Dental Associates wants to make sure that doesn’t happen!
Today, we’re talking about TMJ disorder, the pain it brings, and how we can help you find relief so it doesn’t ruin your Thanksgiving weekend!

Is TMJ Pain Ruining Your Holiday Prep?

Every time you yawn, chew, speak, and laugh, you’re engaging what’s known as the temporomandibular joint. This is the hinge that connects your jaw and skull, and it’s just below your ears.
We expect quite a bit from your TMJ, which is what it’s commonly called. It’s also widely understood that TMJ can also mean TMJ disorder, which is when this joint becomes misaligned for whatever reason. The technical term for it, though, is TMJ disorder, or TMD.
But regardless what you call it, TMJ or TMD, this disorder is painful and disruptive! The symptoms that come along with TMJ disorder can cast a dark shadow over your life and make it hard to get through a day, especially a holiday like Thanksgiving!
Only an experienced dental professional can accurately diagnose TMJ disorder, but here are common symptoms that many sufferers share:
-Frequent painful headaches
-Migraines
-Earache pain
-Tenderness or pain in the jaw
-Facial pain
-Teeth grinding/clenching
-Neck, shoulder, and back pain
-Popping sounds in the jaw joint
-Lockjaw
As you can imagine, this seemingly insignificant joint can be quite uncomfortable when thrown out of proper alignment. You might have one or two of these symptoms, or you might have all of them. In either case, they can make life rather unbearable. The holidays can be stressful enough without these symptoms lingering over you.

Don’t Let TMJ Turn Thanksgiving Into A Pain!

Surprisingly, an estimated 10 million adults in this country suffer from TMJ disorder. So it’s not all that uncommon. But the causes of this joint misalignment can actually have a variety of causes.
You can also be at a higher risk for TMJ disorder. While it’s a condition that can strike anyone, here are some common risk factors for TMD:
-Females who are 18-44 years of age
-People with inflammatory arthritis
-People suffering from chronic stress
-People with higher pain sensitivity
-Teeth grinding / jaw clenching
TMJ disorder can also be a result of some kind of accident or trauma to the jaw. Whatever the cause, however, it’s comforting to know that relief isn’t too hard to find!
Dr. Moore and our skilled team at Cosmetic Dental Associates can help you avoid the curse of TMJ disorder so it doesn’t spoil your holiday fun. We offer customized splints, mouthguards, and even occlusal adjustments and orthodontic treatment to alleviate your TMJ discomfort.

Schedule TMJ Treatment Today!

November is a busy month for families. You’ll no doubt be spending much of your free time prepping for the Thanksgiving weekend festivities. There’s a long grocery list for family dinners, hosting relatives from far away, and maybe even some Black Friday bargain hunting in your future.
That’s enough to carry on your shoulders without the additional pain and muscle tension that TMJ disorder brings. But you can get through the Thanksgiving holiday with more ease thanks to treatment at Cosmetic Dental Associates!
We can help you stop the grinding and clenching of your teeth and jaw that’s aggravating your joint issues so you can have a relaxing, pain-free holiday. Call our San Antonio office today at 210-951-4444 (Medical Center) 210-942-5047 (Alamo Ranch) or fill out our online form to schedule an appointment.