Okemos, Lansing, East Lansing MI
Waking up daily with a headache or migraine can delay your schedule and make it seem more challenging to get through the day. But, in most cases, the pain gets dismissed as too much stress, hunger, dehydration, or caffeine withdrawal. Several people take over-the-counter or prescribed pain relievers only to be disappointed in a few hours when the pain reemerges. Fortunately, our Okemos dentist that treats TMJ patients, Dr. Christine Tenaglia, shares on the blog today why your head may hurt when you wake up in the morning and how you can stop the pain without more doctor trips and medications.
What is TMJ disorder?
TMJ disorder is a malfunction of your temporomandibular joint resulting from a misaligned bite or clenching and grinding teeth. The temporomandibular joint connects your jawbone to the skull and is responsible for fluid movement as you speak, chew, yawn, or open your mouth. Next to the joint is the main nerve that carries pain signals to the brain, and when the nerve becomes irritated, painful sensations can resound in the head, neck, shoulders, and back. Our East Lansing TMJ dentist explains that genetics, physical injuries, or hormones may cause TMJ symptoms. Additionally, some may develop TMJ as an occupational hazard, like a violinist.
What are other TMJ symptoms besides headaches?
Even though TMJ is a condition with your jaw, it can create painful sensations throughout your upper body. For example, you may experience backaches, facial pain, neck aches, or earaches due to joint problems. Furthermore, some patients notice popping or clicking noises while chewing or speaking. Therefore, when you experience persistent pain in any of the mentioned areas, it’s best to schedule a consultation with our neuromuscular dentist in Lansing, Dr. Tenaglia.
What treatments can reduce or eliminate pain for TMJ?
During your initial consultation, Dr. Tenaglia can diagnose the problem and offer a practical, custom treatment plan to help correct the situation. Most times, noninvasive treatments are possible and effective for therapy. However, our primary goal is to relieve painful symptoms using a ULF-TENS or an Ultra Low-Frequency Transcutaneous Electrical Neural Stimulation machine. Through gentle massage that promotes muscle relaxation, you may experience pain reduction without medication.
On the other hand, patients with an unstable bite may need an orthotic or splint to correct their bite pattern. We can stabilize your bite and reduce strain on your jaw joints through minor adjustments and plastic covers over your teeth. Then, our Okemos TMJ dentist can work on permanently correcting your bite.
TMJ Treatment in Okemos, Lansing, and East Lansing, MI
Waking up in pain each day can be debilitating and make you feel like hiding under the covers until the pain disappears. But unfortunately, most people don’t have the luxury of staying home when they have a headache and must carry on daily activities. Therefore, if you suffer from daily headaches and are tired of medications constantly failing to provide results, you should contact our Okemos neuromuscular dentist that treats TMJ. Dr. Tenaglia can help relieve painful symptoms without medication and provide long-term care and relief to get your quality of life back. Please call Tenaglia Smiles at (517) 347-6733 or contact us online to schedule an appointment and find out more about TMJ and possible treatments.