As a parent, it can be difficult to watch your child go through pain, whether it\u2019s a boo-boo from a tumble during play or an emotional response<\/a> from forgetting their favorite lovey at a friend\u2019s house. You may have built up a couple of go-to fixes for such issues, but what if your child complains of jaw pain? How would you handle that problem? Stick around a little longer to learn all about the symptoms of jaw pain and TMJ in children and home remedies you can try at home before visiting the dentist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The temporomandibular joints (TMJs) connect your jawbone to the temporal bones on both sides of your head. It\u2019s because of these joints that you\u2019re able to open and close your mouth. When the TMJs are not functioning well, your child may complain of jaw pain. Think about the number of times your little one opens their mouth to speak, chew, or even yawn. With a dysfunctional TMJ, each of these movements has the potential to aggravate the jaw and cause discomfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s unclear what causes TMJ issues, but several things can contribute to this oral health problem. Bruxism, for one, can put a lot of pressure on the joint and make TMJ disorders more likely. Your child may not even be aware they\u2019re clenching and grinding their teeth, particularly if it happens at night. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to maintain regular appointments with your dentist for pediatrics. A physical examination of your little one\u2019s teeth can reveal evidence of teeth grinding, and you can take the necessary steps to identify the cause and come up with a treatment plan. Children with health problems like juvenile arthritis or a history of facial trauma may also be more susceptible to TMJ issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your child has a problem with either of their TMJs, they may experience the following symptoms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n When your child yawns, do you hear a popping<\/a> or clicking sound? Every child experiences TMJ differently, but this is one of the most common symptoms. If you notice this with your child, it may not be something you need to worry about, but it\u2019s important to schedule an appointment with their dentist right away to be on the safe side. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When your child complains of a dull throbbing ache in the jaw that comes and goes throughout the day, it could be a sign of TMJ. Such discomfort would mostly manifest when your little one chews, speaks, or even yawns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Apart from jaw pain, kids with TMJ may also find it difficult to open their mouths wide or close it again. Usually this happens after your child wakes up, when the joint and its surrounding muscles have gone through a period of inactivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n TMJ discomfort isn\u2019t restricted to your little one’s jaw alone. Sometimes it can cause pain elsewhere in the face, like the cheeks, under the eyes, or even the forehead. If your child\u2019s face looks saggy on one side, let your dentist know as soon as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jaw muscle spasms may occur when the TMJs cause joint muscles to overstretch. Most people notice spontaneous spasms in other parts of the body, which is typically not a cause for concern. But when it happens in your little one\u2019s jaw, they\u2019ll experience a pulsing sensation, tightening in the muscles surrounding the TMJ, and physical hardness in that area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes treatment can be as simple as your child resting their jaw for a couple of days. Switch your child\u2019s diet to include soft foods that don\u2019t require a lot of chewing and help them avoid any habits that can overstretch the jaw muscles, such as yawning too widely, chewing gum, or chewing their fingernails. Applying a cold compress on the jaw should also help numb the area and alleviate any discomfort. For some kids, however, more treatment may be needed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A pediatric dentist can create a custom occlusal splint to fit over your child\u2019s teeth, allowing the TMJ to relax while also providing the teeth with protection from nighttime teeth grinding. If misaligned teeth is the reason for TMJ, starting orthodontic therapy<\/a> may help alleviate your child\u2019s discomfort. For children who experience a locked jaw, a prescription for muscle relaxers from your pediatric dentist may take care of the problem. Occasionally, a dentist may need to manipulate a locked jaw until it opens or closes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even if you aren\u2019t 100% sure your child\u2019s symptoms are the result of TMJ, the best thing you can do as a parent is to continue monitoring the issues your child has with their jaw and schedule an appointment with your nearest children\u2019s dental specialist<\/a> right away. By working with a qualified team of dentists for children (like us!), you can find out the underlying cause of TMJ and develop a personalized treatment plan to meet your child\u2019s needs. With locations in Hastings, Grand Island, North Platte, and Omaha, our pediatric dentists are here to help kids in these and surrounding Nebraska communities so they can go back to feeling like their old self again<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Symptoms of TMJ in Children and Treatment Options As a parent, it can be difficult to watch your child go through pain, whether it\u2019s a boo-boo from a tumble during play or an emotional response from forgetting their favorite lovey at a friend\u2019s house. You may have built up a couple of go-to fixes for…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":204291,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[157],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/omaha.mypediatricdentalspecialists.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/204290"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/omaha.mypediatricdentalspecialists.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/omaha.mypediatricdentalspecialists.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/omaha.mypediatricdentalspecialists.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/26"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/omaha.mypediatricdentalspecialists.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=204290"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/omaha.mypediatricdentalspecialists.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/204290\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":204357,"href":"https:\/\/omaha.mypediatricdentalspecialists.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/204290\/revisions\/204357"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/omaha.mypediatricdentalspecialists.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/204291"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/omaha.mypediatricdentalspecialists.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=204290"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/omaha.mypediatricdentalspecialists.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=204290"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/omaha.mypediatricdentalspecialists.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=204290"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}What is TMJ?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Causes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
TMJ Symptoms in Kids<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Clicking or Popping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Pain in the Jaw<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Restricted Jaw Movement<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. Tired Facial Muscles<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
5. Muscle Spasms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Treatment Options<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
TMJ Treatment for Kids in Nebraska<\/h2>\n\n\n\n