If you’ve ever experienced jaw pain, clicking sounds when chewing, or difficulty opening your mouth, you might be dealing with TMJ dysfunction. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects your jaw to your skull, enabling essential functions like speaking, chewing, and yawning. When this joint isn’t working properly, it can lead to discomfort and impact your daily […]
TMJ
Sleep Apnea Treatment In Fargo
What is sleep apnea? It’s a potentially health-threatening condition in which your breathing periodically stops while you sleep. How do you know if you have sleep apnea? Read through these common symptoms. They may help you determine if you need to go see your medical doctor. Signs of Sleep Apnea Excessive Daytime Sleepiness Insomnia Sleep […]
What is the Epworth Sleepiness Scale?
The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) is a scale that can measure daytime sleepiness based off of your total score on a questionnaire. The questionnaire is made up of eight possible situations, each of which you give a score of 0-3 based on your likelihood to fall asleep in the particular situation, with zero being “no […]
Sleep Apnea vs. Insomnia
There is an epidemic of poor sleep in the U.S. Long-term sleep deficits put men and women at risk of considerable health problems. If you have a chronic issue that keeps you from getting restorative sleep, don’t dismiss it. Two sleep disorders that are typically confused are insomnia and sleep apnea. What is insomnia? Insomnia […]
How Is Snoring Different From Sleep Apnea?
It’s estimated that 50% of people snore at some point during their life. Sleep apnea is a more serious, but also common sleep disorder. Snoring and sleep apnea are related. Many individuals who snore also have sleep apnea. But there are important differences. Why Is Sleep Apnea So Dangerous? Snoring alone doesn’t cause breathing to […]
Your Dentist Does a Lot More Than Fill Cavities
Most individuals know that they can go to their dentist for toothaches, cleanings, and bleeding gums (not to mention cosmetic dentistry procedures such as a smile makeover), but there are some lesser-known oral concerns that your dentist can help you with. Dry mouth treatment Dry mouth, technically called xerostomia, is caused by a lack of […]
Unexplained Headaches Or Jaw Pain?
At Designer Smiles in Fargo ND, we have been practicing general and cosmetic dentistry for years. Today’s post, however, focuses on TMJ, a common condition that can cause headaches and jaw pain. TMJ is short for temporomandibular joint, which is the scientific name for your jaw joint. As a hinge joint, it can shift up […]
Suffering From Jaw Pain?
Categories: Oral Health, TMJ
In this post from Designer Smiles in Fargo ND, we wanted to discuss something that most dental practices don’t focus on: jaw pain. The jaw is a sliding hinge joint, and its formal name is a real mouthful: the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ for short. TMJ disorder (TMJ/TMD) is more common than you might guess. […]
We Take Jaw Pain Seriously
Categories: TMJ
Those affected by temporomandibular joint disorder or TMD, know how the pain and discomfort can lower quality of life. You may also have heard “TMD” referred to as “TMJ.” The experienced staff at Designer Smiles helps countless patients manage their condition. The temporomandibular, or jaw, joint connects the lower jaw bone to the skull. It’s […]
Gritting Your Teeth: Stress And Your Smile
Categories: TMJ
Doctors have been telling us for years that stress can increase the risk of everything from high blood pressure to depression. But how often do we think about how stress impacts our smile? Here are some dental problems linked to stress. Canker and Cold Sores Cold sores are a symptom of the herpes simplex virus. […]
