July, 2024 - Twin Smiles Orthodontics

TMJ: Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction

First, let’s start with some terms. TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint (tem-puh-roe-man-DIB-u-lur). We all have one, so from a doctor’s perspective if you come in and say you have TMJ, on the other side we’re thinking “yes, so do we.” It’s like coming in and saying you have a knee joint. TMD, or temporomandibular disorders is a broad term for anything in regards to pain or dysfunction for the joint by your ear.

The TMJ is a ball and socket joint, just like your elbow, shoulder, or knee, which means it can move in many different planes of space. Your lower jaw is the only jaw that moves–the upper jaw does not move. The TMJ is one of the most complicated joints in your body. It is attached to your mouth which allows us to breathe, eat, and speak, so we’re using it all day long, all the time.

TMJ Symptoms

Below are some common TMJ symptoms that may indicate you should see a specialist:

Joint has ever locked open where you can’t close your mouth (open lock)
Or the opposite, where you can’t open your mouth (closed lock)
Limited opening of the jaw, can’t open as wide as you used to be able to
Constant neck, back, or jaw pain
Pain or discomfort around ear
Headaches or migraines

Clicking in the Joint

Some people worry if they hear clicking in the jaw. But if there’s no pain associated with the mild popping or clicking, it may not be a problem, as many people hear clicking. To be safe though, you can still go see a specialist to make sure everything’s okay.

Tips for Whitening Your Teeth

Many people like the look of a bright white smile and want whiter teeth. In this post we’ll share tips for how to safely whiten your teeth and our recommendation for the most cost-effective method.

There are three main ways to whiten your teeth:

In-office whitening with a more involved procedure
Dentist-supplied products for use at home – you’re given gel with a clear tray to whiten at home
Over-the-counter whiteners like Crest White Strips

Most Cost-Effective Way to Whiten Your Teeth

The most cost-effective way to whiten your teeth is dentist-supplied products for use at home as you’ll get the most bang for your buck with this method. Many people don’t see effects from over the counter whitening strips. With dentist-supplied products for use at home, depending on how much whitening you want to do, you’ll only need to use a small amount of gel in your trays for a couple weeks to see results.

Only Natural Teeth Can Be Whitened

An important thing to know for whitening is that only your natural teeth can be whitened–composites, veneers, fillings, and crowns cannot be whitened. So consider getting these all done prior to whitening your teeth so they will all match.

You can whiten with attachments on, so if you’re doing Invisalign or a similar treatment you can use your trays to whiten your teeth over your attachments. This is convenient and efficient because you can whiten your teeth while wearing the trays anyway.

If you’re looking for teeth whitening or Invisalign treatment, we’d love to see you at Twin Smiles Orthodontics in Palo Alto. Read more about Invisalign treatment here.

Types of Braces

Braces can help correct problems with teeth like crowding, misalignment, spacing, or crooked teeth. There are several types of braces including metal, ceramic, lingual, and self-ligating. Metal braces are the most common, and some people opt for aligners like Invisalign for a more natural looking option.

Metal braces – metal brackets are attached to the teeth and connected by archwires to apply pressure
Ceramic braces – function like metal braces, but the brackets attached to the teeth are ceramic so they’re less noticeable
Lingual braces – sometimes called “invisible braces”, instead of having the brackets attached to the front of the teeth, lingual braces have brackets attached to the back of the teeth so they’re not visible
Self-ligating braces – Less common, the brackets have a built-in mechanism which holds the archwire in place so you may have shorter in-office appointments and can go longer between adjustment appointments.
Aligners – Aligners are different from braces, but are another option for aligning your teeth that uses a clear tray that looks like a retainer instead of brackets that also gradually moves your teeth through gradual force

Read more about Invisalign vs braces here.

Each of the above options can work to straighten your teeth or correct conditions where your teeth don’t fit together properly (like crossbites, overbites, and underbites) through applying gentle, continuous pressure to move your teeth into the correct position over time.

Braces can improve your smile, but they can also improve your oral health and function of your teeth and jaws, reducing the risk of abnormal tooth wear. We recommend starting treatment as soon as you can, including children 7+ years old to avoid more serious problems down the road, but it’s never too late to discuss ways we can enhance your smile. We’d love to see you at Twin Smiles Orthodontics in Palo Alto!