207-985-7944 
207-985-8718 Did you know that the ball and socket joints that connect your lower jaw to your skull are called your temporomandibular joints? They allow you to move your mouth around for a variety of purposes, such as speaking clearly and chewing food to digest it better. Chronic jaw pain can also be a result of the TMJs if they have developed a TMJ disorder as a result of an injury.
Your TMJs are very complex, which means they can also be easily damaged by force or constant tension, resulting in a TMJ disorder that typically persists for a lifetime if not treated. Try an ice or heat pack to reduce reduce jaw pain caused by an swelling or inflammation in the jaw joints. You may also find that biofeedback or lifestyle changes such as music therapy, yoga, or meditation helps relieve tension-causing anxiety and stress.
An underlying condition known as bruxism could also be the direct cause of TMJ disorder if frequently grinding and clenching your teeth at night has caused damage to the TMJs. In this case, an appliance such as a bite plate or custom night guard may be needed to improve your condition and reduce the damage caused by bruxism.
Give Kennebunk Center for Dentistry a call at 207-985-7944 today if you are interested in reviewing your treatment options for TMJ disorder in Kennebunk, Maine and would like to meet with our dentists, Dr. Sara Sheikh and Dr. Muhammad Ali Shazib.