How TMD Affects People’s Lives

People often ignore signs that something is wrong or may say they’ve gotten used to it. But few of those people can see how pain from something like temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) truly affects every aspect of their lives and how different their life could be if they sought treatment. 

We Use the TMJ More Than We Think

It might be tempting to think that by not using your jaw as much could help reduce symptoms. And while in certain contexts that may be true it is incredibly difficult to do because we use our jaws for a lot of things and taking those things off the menu isn’t realistic.

• Speaking
• Singing
• Eating
• Breathing
• Sleeping

Effects on Speaking

How can TMD affect speech? How does your voice and inflection change when you’re hurt? The impact is even more pronounced when the source of that pain is coming from something you need to speak. TMD can make speaking difficult. 

Speaking is the result of a coordination of multiple muscle groups and movement around the temporomandibular joint. If you’ve ever sung in the car on a road trip, you may have noticed that after a few songs, your facial muscles start to feel sore. This soreness could be a sign of TMD. Here are a few other ways TMD’s affect on speaking can impact a person’s life:

• Giving presentations at work or school
• Talking and opening up around new people
• Singing in the car or shower

TMD’s Effects on Eating

Eating is something many of us take joy in. Tasting great food can trigger the release of endorphins and provide us an opportunity to connect with friends and family on a deeper level. Because eating relies on the consistent movement of muscles surrounding the jaw, TMD can make chewing painful. If a person experiences an upswing in their TMD symptoms during or following a meal, it can cause them to:

• Eat less
• Enjoy their food less
• Go out to dinner with their friends and family less
• Feel sad and affect their mental health

How Is Sleep Affected?

From this list, sleep is often the least noticeable at first when it comes to connecting symptoms associated with TMD. The reason for this disconnect is that we’re not fully aware of the symptoms we’re displaying because we’re asleep. What are the consequences a person faces during their night’s sleep as a result of their TMD?

• Sleep breathing disorders
• Sleep apnea
• Waking up numerous times throughout the night
• Regular snoring

TMJ Disorder Treatment

For more information on TMJ disorder and potential treatment options, call Dr. David Buck’s office at 425-361-7499.