San Francisco, Marin, and Oakland, CA
As the news continues to cover the coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic, more people are becoming stressed about the abrupt disruption to their daily life. Increased stress could cause additional oral health concerns such as Temporal Mandibular Disorder (TMD) or more commonly known as TMJ. Since TMJ is the main source of jaw pain, and frequent headaches, your neuromuscular dentists in the Bay Area at Glen Park Dental are answering if the coronavirus pandemic could be fueling your stress-related jaw pain and the proper treatment to relieve your discomfort.
Stress and TMJ Pain
Unfortunately, stress-induced health concerns could easily grow during this time of uncertainty. If you already suffer from TMJ, it could be flaring up because of the situation the nation is trying to safely navigate. However, if you have recently developed jaw pain or headaches, it could be a result of a TMJ disorder caused by stress.
How to tell if I should see my Bay Area dentist for jaw pain
Currently, California residents are ordered to shelter-in-place, with some exceptions. What does this mean in regard to getting dental care?
Bay Area emergency TMJ dentists at Glen Park Dental want you to know how to tell if you should see the dentist if you experience jaw pain during the pandemic:
- Severe pain when eating that impacts your ability to consume nutritious foods or results in you not being able to eat at all
- Pain that prevents you from sleeping well, leaving you fatigued, tired, and irritable because of lack of sufficient sleep
- Experiencing lockjaw or you are not able to close or open your mouth
- Migraines or frequent headaches that disrupt your ability to function each day
If you experience these TMJ-related symptoms, contact Glen Park Dental to make arrangements for care. We offer video consultations that allow us to assess your condition and speak with you while you are in the comfort of your own home. Our TMJ dentists in San Francisco encourage you to seek a consultation with us right away if you are suffering from TMJ pain because the condition will not go away on its own.
How can stress wreck my oral health?
As some people become stressed, they have no outlet to release it and could develop other health issues that help your body cope with the situation. Oakland TMJ dentists at Glen Park Dental may notice damage to your teeth, indicating that you grind your teeth while sleeping, even when you may not realize you do it. Grinding your teeth is known as bruxism and could cause severe pain in your jaw or recurrent headaches. As you grind your teeth, they become worn down and are subject to additional damage such as cracked or broken teeth resulting in immediate dental care to avoid infection. Unfortunately, bruxism is a condition that will not automatically disappear, and if not properly addressed by a dentist, it could cause severe damage to your oral health.
How is TMJ treated by a dentist?
Treatment varies for each patient, but your neuromuscular dentists in San Francisco use sophisticated technology to assist in determining your accurate, natural bite pattern. Also, your dentist can determine the proper alignment of the muscles in your jaw to help reduce TMJ symptoms. By determining your jaw position, it could prevent muscular imbalances and reduce the pain associated with TMJ and protect your teeth and bone structure as well. As part of the treatment process, you may be required to wear a custom oral appliance at night to help protect your teeth from grinding together. The oral mouthguard should reduce the wear and damage caused by bruxism resulting in less pain and headaches.
TMJ Treatment in Marin, Oakland, and San Francisco, California
Stress-induced oral health issues can be addressed by your dental providers in Marin at Glen Park Dental. Even though we are not able to remove the stressful situations you may be facing during the coronavirus outbreak, we can treat the oral health conditions caused by stress. If you wake up with severe jaw pain or debilitating headaches, contact Glen Park Dental before you suffer extensive damage to your teeth. Feel free to call (415) 585-1500 to schedule your appointment.
