I am proud to say that I have all my own teeth at the age of 65. While that may not sound unusual to some people, everyone in my family who is my age or older wears dentures. I always tell people that that flossing is the key to good dental health. I have arthritis in my hands, but I don't let it keep me from flossing every day. My trick is to use those little "flossers" you can buy at the drug store. They have plastic handles floss stretched out on top of the handle. These make flossing easier on days when my arthritis is acting up. I started this blog to let other people know that they can keep their teeth healthy into old age when they take care of them. If you have hand pain, find ways to make flossing easier, like I did.
Don't Let Hand Pain Keep You from Flossing
4 Reasons Your Jaw May Hurt
Francis Miles
If you are experiencing pain in your jaw, there are a variety of different issues that can cause this pain. If you have jaw pain that lasts for more than a few hours, it is smart to seek medical care. Although most jaw pain can be connected to dental issues, not all jaw pain is.
TMJ
One of the more common causes of jaw pain is TMJ, more formally known as temporomandibular joint dysfunction. When your jaw is not aligned correctly, you can experience jaw pain. You can experience soreness and tenderness in your neck, shoulders, face, and even around your ears.
TMJ is a serious condition which can lead to a locked jaw. You may also hear a cracking or clicking sound when you open or close your mouth. You may experience pain when you bite down as well and may experience inflammation in your face. The inflammation and pain may be subtle, and you may not really even notice it as you have become used to it.
TMJ can be treated through a variety of methods, ranging from night guards, relaxation therapy, medication, and dental surgery and treatments.
Teeth Grinding
Teeth grinding can be caused by many different factors. Teeth grinding can have both psychological, physical, and genetic causes. It can be difficult to determine the exact cause of teeth grinding, but there are ways that you can fight back against it. You can use splints or mouth guards to protect your teeth. You can also use therapy and medication to reduce grinding during the day.
Teeth grinding can have serious consequences, from jaw pain to headaches. It can also wear down the enamel on your teeth and expose the dentin, causing tooth pain and sensitivity.
Cavity
When you have a cavity, it can cause pain in your jaw if the cavity has spread. As a cavity spreads, the bacteria and infection can move into your dental pulp and nerve. When this happens, the pain can spread to your bone tissue and can cause jaw pain.
Wisdom Teeth
Finally, if you still have your wisdom teeth, your jaw pain may stem from your wisdom teeth coming in. Most people's mouths don't have the space to fit wisdom teeth without squishing the rest of your teeth. A wisdom tooth coming in can cause acute pain and swelling. It may be hard to pinpoint where the pain is coming from.
If you start experiencing jaw pain on a regular basis, you are going to want to see your dentist and get to the root cause of your jaw pain. Jaw pain can be a signifier of a more serious issue, such as TMJ, teeth grinding, a deep cavity, or even your wisdom teeth coming in.
For more information, look at websites such as https://www.belgradedental.com/.
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