Have you ever experienced a “stiff” or a “tired” jaw? If so, you might be suffering from TMJ pain. TMJ stands for the temporomandibular joint, which is your jaw bone. Pain in the TMJ is actually one of the most common pains that people experience, right below headaches and migraines. Usually TMJ pain is mild in nature and disappears on its own, however for some TMJ pain can become chronic and debilitating.
Chronic TMJ pain is more common in female, ages 20 to 45, and it may be aggravated by stress and poor sleep. Treatments usually include night-guards, jaw stretching exercises, and proper sleep and stress management. Recent research has shown positive response to using Botox in the jaw to reduce clenching and pain. If your jaw pain is starting to affect your quality of life, its best to treat it quickly before it becomes chronic. You can speak to your dentist about it or you can call our clinic directly for a comprehensive TMJ exam. The Ottawa TMJ & Sleep Apnea Clinic is a dental clinic limited to managing TMJ and other facial pains.