Why Does My Smile Hurt?It is natural for your face to hurt when you’ve just spent hours smiling for photos, like on your wedding day, for instance. But, if you regularly struggle with cramping from smiling, it could be due to a dental-related issue, such as misalignment of the teeth, or even TMJ disorder. Muscle pains throughout the face and jaw are often caused by Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction, a condition that may affect as many as 10 million Americans. If you are ready to get to the root of your jaw or face pain, it’s time to talk to your restorative dentist about whether TMJ could be to blame, and if so, how dental treatment could help!

Don’t Ignore Cheek or Jaw Pain

Face, jaw, mouth and even ear pain can be caused by TMJ disorder. Difficulty chewing, toothaches, joint locking and cracking sounds are other common side effects of TMJ. If you regularly struggle with cheek, neck or jaw pain, then, it is best to schedule a consultation with your dentist, to determine the cause of the pain, and whether or not TMJ treatment might be able to help.

Treatment Could Help You Smile Comfortably

TMJ treatment varies based upon the cause of the issue. In the case of teeth grinding, known as bruxism, an oral appliance worn during sleep can often help. This makes it impossible to grind the teeth. It’s also a simple and fast solution.

However, if poor alignment of the teeth is the cause of the discomfort, orthodontic treatment might actually be the best way to improve a patient’s comfort and to prevent worsening issues.