Not long ago, Mr. Zhang came to the dental clinic for help. After a family gathering, Mr. Zhang suddenly couldn't open his mouth. Initially, he only felt some discomfort in front of his ears, with occasional soreness and slight pain when biting into a hard object. I thought I was just eating too much and that I would get better after a little rest. But in the following days, the situation did not go his way, and the pain gradually intensified, and even affected his normal diet and sleep. Especially when he woke up in the early morning and found that he could barely open his mouth, he realized the seriousness of the problem.
After questioning, the doctor found that it was all kinds of nuts, beef jerky, hard-shell seafood feasts and many other delicacies at the family gathering that caused the excessive burden on the temporomandibular joint, resulting in temporomandibular joint disorder, which caused Mr. Zhang to "close his mouth".
Q: What is TMJ disorder?
A: The temporomandibular joint is located in the maxillofacial area and is the junction of the skull and mandible, and is responsible for functions such as opening the mouth, closing the mouth, and chewing. The temporomandibular joint includes important structures such as the joint head, joint fossa and joint disc, which complete the function by rotating and sliding in the joint socket through the joint head, and is the only composite joint in the human body that can rotate and slide at the same time. When opening or closing the mouth, you can feel the rotation of the joint head with your fingers slightly in front of the ear. The commonly referred to as chin dislocation is a typical symptom of temporomandibular joint disease.
Temporomandibular joint disorder is a malfunction of the joint, including symptoms such as pain, clicking, difficulty opening or locking, and the patient may feel soreness or pain in front of the ear. This disorder can be caused by a variety of factors, including trauma, stress, tooth wear or poor bite.
Q: Why are temporomandibular joint disorders more frequent in winter and spring?
A: In winter and early spring, when the temperature is low, the temporomandibular joint is prone to vasoconstriction and muscle tension, which can lead to joint pain, stiffness, and even temporomandibular arthritis. Many patients will have soreness or pain in front of the ear, and in severe cases, joint discomfort may occur when opening the mouth, or even limited mouth opening.
During the Chinese New Year, people's eating habits will also change, such as eating harder foods (nuts, beef jerky, crab, etc.), which may increase the burden on the temporomandibular joint. In addition, staying up late and working hard during the Spring Festival are also factors that cannot be ignored, which may lead to the occurrence of temporomandibular joint disorders.
Q: How to properly deal with TMJ discomfort?
A: Keep your head and front of the ears warm. Remember to wear a hat when you go out, especially when cycling or walking, and you can choose to use earmuffs to keep warm depending on the temperature. If the head is kept warm, the temporomandibular joint will be warm. In fact, the warmth of the head can indirectly affect the temporomandibular joint through blood circulation, reducing the likelihood of cold. For friends with joint symptoms in the past, you can choose ear packs, scarves, masks and other ways to strengthen the warmth of the pre-ear joint area.
Be mindful of what you eat. In the case of joint discomfort, try to eat less hard objects, avoid excessive bite force, especially beef jerky, nuts, etc., and avoid biting hard foods such as crab shells and crab claws with your teeth. This can help the joints get enough rest and help relieve joint pain. It is advisable to choose foods that are easy to chew and digest in your diet, such as cooked vegetables, lean broth, etc., which not only reduce the burden on the temporomandibular joint, but also provide the necessary nutrients.
Apply a warm compress appropriately. If you have symptoms of joint soreness, you can apply an appropriate warm compress to help reduce the symptoms of the joint. Warm compresses can be placed directly on the temporomandibular joint area in front of the ear for about 10-15 minutes each time, 2-3 times a day. Warm compresses can help relieve muscle tension and improve circulation, which can reduce pain and discomfort. When applying heat, care should be taken to adjust the temperature to avoid burns.
Maintain good oral hygiene. Regular brushing, flossing, and regular cleaning if necessary, only good oral hygiene can effectively control oral diseases, thereby reducing the risk of temporomandibular joint disease. Good oral hygiene habits not only prevent dental and gum disease, but also reduce the burden on the temporomandibular joint caused by dental problems.
Maintain moderate exercise. Proper exercise can strengthen physical fitness, improve immunity, and make the temporomandibular joint healthier. However, it is necessary to pay attention to the warmth of the joints when exercising to avoid getting cold. Moderate exercise, such as walking, yoga or gentle temporomandibular joint exercises, can help improve joint flexibility and stability and reduce the risk of joint disorders.
Get plenty of sun. Sunlight not only helps us synthesize vitamin D, but it also makes us feel better. When basking in the sun, don't forget to bask your face so that your temporomandibular joint can also enjoy the warmth of the sun. Moderate sun exposure can help improve the overall health of the body, including the TMJ.
Li Xiao (Attending Physician) Dai Qinggang (Deputy Chief Physician) (Second Dental Clinic, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine).