While many normally associate Temporomandibular disorder (TMJ) with jaw issues, it can impact your life in more ways than you think. We know that TMJ can cause a number of different issues such as migraines, back pain, and nerve damage, but TMJ impacts not only yourself, but how you interact with those you love.
Impact on the Day to Day
With TMJ, daily activities such as eating and drinking can become painful chores, restricting the kind of food and drink you can have. Even sleeping can become painful and lead to less restful sleep. In a way, this becomes a vicious cycle because a lack of sleep can actually reduce your resistance to pain. If you find yourself traveling for work, TMJ even can make flying a painful endeavor.
Impact on Your Loved Ones
TMJ can also influence your emotional state as well. Migraines, a common symptom of TMJ, are not only painful to you, but also can affect your mood, causing you to recoil emotionally from your family in an attempt to cope with the pain. Tinnitus, another symptom of TMJ due to the disorder’s effect on the cochlear nerves, has been observed to actually delay responses to positive emotional stimuli in addition to leaving you in a heightened state of anxiety and distress. The negative impact to your relationships has the potential to be very profound, but the important thing to remember is that TMJ is treatable and you do not have to simply suffer through the pain.
How We Can Positively Impact Your Day
You do not have to live with the day to day pain that TMJ brings. If you find that your life is being negatively impacted by TMJ please seek the help of a TMJ dentist. There are multiple treatment options available depending on your needs. If you have any questions related to TMJ in Spokane Valley or if you would like to set up an appointment please call Collins Dentistry and Aesthetics at (509) 927-2273.
