Have you ever felt like the room is whirling around you, even though you are standing perfectly still? This unsettling sensation, known as vertigo, is experienced by up to 40% of adults at some point in their lives. While vertigo can arise due to many different underlying issues, you may be surprised to learn that it is sometimes connected to TMJ disorder, also called TMD. Exploring this connection may help you address both dizziness and jaw discomfort.
What Exactly Is Vertigo?
Vertigo is not a disease in itself. Instead, it is a symptom that indicates something is wrong with your body’s balance system. You might notice vertigo when you change positions, turn your head, or even while standing motionless. The sensation occurs when signals between your inner ear, brain, and sensory nerves are disrupted or misinterpreted.
Your inner ear contains structures that are vital for tracking movement and maintaining orientation. If these inner ear structures are affected by inflammation, injury, or pressure, your brain may receive confusing messages. This miscommunication leads to the spinning or tilting feeling and a loss of equilibrium.
The Link Between TMD and Vertigo
The temporomandibular joints, or TMJs, are the joints that control movement of your lower jaw. They are located very close to the inner ear structures that are responsible for your sense of balance. When you have TMJ disorder, inflammation or dysfunction in these joints can impact tissues that are critical for spatial orientation. This proximity means that swelling, tension, or misalignment in the TMJs may put pressure on nearby nerves and blood vessels, disrupting the signals that help you stay balanced.
Another way in which TMD may cause vertigo is through how it affects your muscles. It often causes muscle tightness that extends throughout the face, neck, and upper shoulders. These interconnected areas play an important role in your body’s balance mechanisms. Disturbances in these muscles and joints can amplify feelings of dizziness or vertigo, especially when you move your head or jaw.
Seeking Professional Help
If you suspect that your dizziness or vertigo is linked to TMJ disorder, you should seek professional advice. A qualified dentist can examine your jaw joints, bite, and the muscles surrounding your TMJs to determine whether dysfunction is contributing to your symptoms.
After a thorough evaluation, your dentist can create a personalized treatment plan. Possible therapies may include custom oral appliances, bite adjustments, targeted jaw exercises, lifestyle changes, and even BOTOX injections. As your TMJs start to work in better harmony, the surrounding muscles may relax, inflammation is likely to decrease, and you could experience a significant reduction in vertigo episodes.
TMD and vertigo symptoms should not be dismissed lightly! Without timely treatment, these issues could worsen, and you might even suffer permanent damage to your jaw joints. Now is the time to seek the advice of a qualified TMJ dentist.
Meet the Practice
The three dentists at Exceptional Dentistry Pain & Sleep Solutions are all highly trained in the nuances of how to diagnose and address TMJ disorder. Under their leadership, our practice offers multiple treatments for this condition, including occlusal splints, TENS therapy, BOTOX injections, and minor bite adjustments. To learn more about how we may be able to help you find relief from your TMD symptoms, contact our Silver Spring, MD, office at 301-460-3331.