TMD (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder) can be caused by any number of reasons but its key symptoms, soreness or painful jaw muscles, arise mostly because of a bad alignment of your jaw and spine. Other causes of TMJ disorder include injury to the jaw, joints, and muscles within your head, grinding of the teeth, poor posture, and even stress. Unfortunately, even your sleep could be affecting your TMJ pain and making it worse.
For TMJ pain sufferers, some of the most uncomfortable pain can occur while you sleep. Because of this, it may become difficult for people who suffer with TMJ pain to experience a good night’s sleep. Even some sleep positions could make TMJ pain worse than others.
The position in which you sleep at night could be the cause of further TMJ issues such as heightened jaw pain and facial muscle pain. The way you sleep affects everything from your head to your shoulders and could be the likelihood of teeth clenching and grinding. If you suffer from pain in the ear or jaw and wake up in the middle of the night because of it, you might have your sleep position to blame.
The worst sleep position is on your stomach. Even if you sleep with your arm under your head, you’re still heightening the stress and pain of TMJ disorder. To reduce the pain caused by a bad sleep position, sleep on your back as much as you can. Sleeping on your back reduces the pressure on your jaw, supports your head, neck, and shoulders, and reduces your chances of teeth grinding and clenching.
If you think you may be suffering from TMJ disorder, make an appointment at C&C Dentistry today and find out early. You might be a candidate for Neuromuscular Dentistry.