Does TMD Affect Women More Often Than Men?

October 28, 2017

Filed under: Blog,TMJ Treatment — tntadmin @ 5:10 am

Did you know that about 90% of the ten million reported cases of people affected by TMJ are made by women in their child-baring years? In fact, studies revealed that women are about three times more likely than men to seek treatment for temporomandibular disorders and the ratio of the number of women seeking help for severe TMJ symptoms as compared to men is 9 to 1. These ratios only get higher as the severity of the disorder increases, thus indicating that women are more susceptible to the malfunctioning of the temporomandibular joint as opposed to men.

Why are Women More Susceptible to TMJ Disorders?
Pain can affect men and women differently. The main reason for such a disparity is the difference in the level of hormones between men and women. These hormones essentially function as chemical messengers within the body and can have a lot of side effects when the levels fluctuate. Women of childbearing age are especially susceptible to such hormonal imbalances and tend to have pronounced fluctuations in their levels of estrogen and progesterone, thereby putting them at the highest risk of developing TMD.

Apart from hormonal fluctuations, stress is also a leading cause of female TMD. Stress is one of the main predisposing factors for TMD and chronic anxiety and stress are known to affect more women than men.

Are Hormones the Only Cause of TMJ Disorders in Women?
Stress is another key factor that may contribute to more TMJ problems in women as women handle stress very differently from men. Research has linked chronic stress and anxiety with TMJ. For example, many TMJ sufferers clench or grind their teeth at night. This stress-related subconscious action can interfere with the working of the TMJ.

While the various studies conducted on the matter have provided us with promising results, further research is required to better understand the complexity of the disorder and why women are largely affected by it.

What Can Women Do To Reduce Their Risk?
TMD sufferers usually experience the following symptoms:

  • Jaw pain
  • Dizziness
  • Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears
  • Headaches
  • Neck aches or stiff neck
  • Earaches
  • Radiating pain in the face
  • Inability to open jaw wide
  • Pain when chewing
  • Popping and clicking of the jaw

If you are facing any of the symptoms mentioned above, you must visit your dentist immediately and get your jaw checked. Discuss your symptoms with your dentist to understand if the cause of such discomfort is related to your TMJ or is an indicator of another health issue. Depending on the severity of the disorder, your dentist will then provide you with solutions to help alleviate the pain, which can range from simple self-care solutions or jaw exercises to facilitate the movement of your jaw bone and joint.

In some case cases, such pain or discomfort may be caused due to stress and will require you to take additional care of your jaw. Your dentist will be able to provide you with jaw exercises and a well-balanced diet to help avoid the chances of agitating the jaw bone and retaining its function.

You can also perform a period assessment to keep a check on your jaw function. Apart from checking for pain while chewing, swallowing and talking, you should be able to fit at least 3 fingers between your jaws when opening wide, while being able to your lower jaw side to side without pain. If you can perform these activities without any discomfort or pain, you can rest assured that your TMJ is working fine. However, if you feel any limitation in terms of movement or hear loud joint noises, you must get your jaw checked immediately.

If you need more information on TMD or the TMJ treatment plans and preventative measures, make an appointment with Joshua Hong DDS, an experienced dental clinic in Goodyear, AZ and receive expert guidance today!

Tooth Care Tips to Keep Your Kid’s Smile Healthy This Halloween

October 13, 2017

Filed under: Blog,Oral Health — tntadmin @ 1:19 pm

It’s that time of the year again! Sweet treats, spooky decor, zombies, and witches are all set for the annual trick-or-treat haul. Like every year, this year also parents will spend billions on costumes and candies while kids will have one sole goal in mind – accumulating piles of candy which is no less than a nightmare for every parent.

Here are 6 oral care tips to keep your kid’s teeth protected from rotting, cavities, and candy damage:

  1. Trade-in the Sweet Treats with Seasonal GiftsIf you have been tasked with purchasing sugar candies for your kid’s school party or a Halloween event, consider replacing edible treats with fancy stationery goodies like pencils, stickers, or erasers. Your child will surely receive a bag full of candies so skipping chewy, gummy sweets is a great idea. This Halloween don’t take the traditional route and thrill parents and children with seasonal gifts.
  2. Sneak in Some Healthy Snacks Between the Sweet Treats We know that a handful of raisins and almonds cannot be compared to flavoursome M&M’s, but some amount of parental control is the key to keeping your kid’s teeth healthy even with candy consumption. Sneak in some healthy snacks between sugary indulgences to promote a balanced diet and dental health. You can also switch sweet and sour candies with sugar-free options to stimulate saliva production as it helps neutralize the acids produced by increased candy consumption.
  3. Weed Out All Unfavorable OptionsScrutinize your child’s Halloween candy haul and weed out all unhealthy options from the inventory. Gummies and caramels stick to the teeth and keep lingering in the mouth long after your child has consumed them so perform a candy purge and cut down on their quantity. Sour candies can cause serious damage to the enamel of the teeth due to high levels of acid so make sure their amount is in moderation.
  4. Control the Consumption by Limiting the Time for Sticky, Sugary Goodness Of course your child would want to consume every single candy that is collected but this would definitely be detrimental to the dental health unless you time the treat to control the consumption. After your child has consumed a candy, be sure he/she waits for 30 minutes before brushing the teeth. This is because the saliva in the mouth naturally restores the acid balance in 30 minutes. If you make your child brush right after consuming the candy, you are actually making your child brush more acid on the enamel which accelerates tooth erosion.
  5. Double Down on Your Kid’s Dental RoutineIt’s Halloween and it would be totally unfair if you restrict your child from enjoying savory candies but you can still be a smart parent and keep your kid’s teeth healthy in this sugar-filled festive season by ensuring that:
    • Your child drinks plenty of water throughout the day to rinse away all the harmful bacteria and sugar particles.
    • Rather than giving your child sweet stash whenever and wherever, dole out one piece at a time after meals.
    • Give your child a substantial, balanced meal before he/she leaves so there is less room to fill up on sweet treats along the way.
    • Make sure your kid practices good oral hygiene and brushes twice a day for at least two minutes.
  6. Don’t let the Halloween Indulgence Wreck Havoc on Your Child’s Teeth – Schedule a Dental Visit While daily oral care is a crucial part of your child’s dental health, even regular brushing and meticulous flossing miss out hard-to-reach areas and extreme corners of the teeth giving rise to plaque build-up. So this is the time to schedule your child’s routine dental check-up if you want to prevent the sticky, sugary treats from increasing the risk of painful cavities. Follow these tips to be sure your child’s teeth stay strong even with candy consumption.

Joshua Hong DDS Wishes You a Happy Halloween and Good Dental Health for Trick or Treat!
At Joshua Hong DDS, we want every child to enjoy the sweet treats of the festive season. With smart candy choices and proper dental hygiene habits, parents can protect their kid’s teeth from cavities as they continue to enjoy a fun night of trick-or-treating. Don’t take any chances with your child’s teeth and schedule a consultation today at 623.925.8822.