Can TMJ Disorder Cause Swelling in One Cheek Only?
It can be quite unsettling to suddenly notice that one side of your cheek appears swollen.
If you have TMJ disorder, your first thought might be that the temporomandibular joint problem is the cause of the one swollen cheek. (more…)
Can TMJ Disorder Cause Ringing in only One Ear?
Tinnitus or “ringing” in only one ear can be caused by a brain tumor, but what about TMJ disorder as a potential cause of tinnitus affecting only one ear? (more…)
Why Can’t All People with Bad Livers Get a Liver Transplant?
It’s not just an issue of not enough donor livers; it’s an issue that for some patients whose livers are failing, a transplant would mean certain death.
But let’s assume that plenty of livers are available. Nevertheless, some patients still would not be put on the transplant list. (more…)
Can Hepatic Encephalopathy from Cardiac Liver Disease Come & Go?
If the liver is failing due to heart failure and causes hepatic encephalopathy, can this altered mental status and confusion come and go, or is it permanent due to brain damage from toxin buildup? (more…)
Can Wisdom Teeth Removal Cause TMJ Disorder?
Is it really possible for a person with a perfectly healthy jaw to undergo wisdom teeth removal, only to come out of it with TMJ disorder?
How likely can the removal of one’s wisdom teeth ever outright cause TMJ problems? (more…)
How Effective Is Botox for TMJ Disorder Pain?
Do you suffer from the pain of TMJ disorder?
Have you tried many treatments but none have worked?
Well, what about Botox injections?
“Ninety percent of all TMJ symptoms are muscular in nature; therefore, many people have turned to Botox as a potential treatment for TMJ disorders,” says Jeffrey Haddad, DDS, of Doolin Haddad Advanced Dentistry in Rochester, MI (more…)
Can TMJ Disorder Cause an Ear to Clog During Sleep?
“The reason a TMJ disorder can cause ears to clog during sleep is the same reason it can cause ears to clog while awake,” says a dentist who specializes in the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorder. (more…)
Can TMJ Disorder Affect Your Neck Muscles?
TMJ disorder, with its ability to cast all sorts of troublesome symptoms onto the sufferer, can also affect neck muscles. (more…)
Sore Gums from Flossing: Causes and How to Prevent
Your gums should not get sore from flossing.
However, there are ways to treat this problem as well as prevent any discomfort from recurring. (more…)
Can a Dry Socket Be Caused by a Stuck Food Particle?
If you think you’re suffering from the pain of a dry socket after tooth extraction, it’s possible that the cause is a particle of food that’s stuck there.
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“Yes, it can,” says Dr. Haissam Dahan, DMD, MSc, PhD, lecturer at Harvard and McGill University and owner of Ottawa TMJ & Sleep Apnea Clinic.
“That’s why it’s very important to listen and follow the instructions that your dentist gives you after teeth removal, which usually include eating a soft diet, rinsing gently with salt water and avoid smoking (a big reason why people end up with dry socket),” explains Dr. Dahan.
What exactly is a dry socket?
Sometimes after a wisdom or other tooth removal, a dry socket develops, though it occurs in only two to five percent of patients.
The hole in the bone where your tooth was removed is called a socket. A blood clot forms—and it’s supposed to—in this socket after the extraction of a tooth.
The blood clot protects the bone and nerves below it and is crucial for proper healing.
But if the protective clot moves off its position or dissolves prematurely, the bone and nerves will be exposed to food particles (and anything else that enters the mouth such as air).
The result may be a lot of pain due to infection, though this typically lasts five or six days. But the pain may spread to the ear.
After having any tooth removed … you must adhere to your dentist’s dietary and other aftercare guidelines.
This means no munchies, chips, pretzels, nuts, seeds, crackers, popcorn, apples or anything else that is crispy or crunchy.
But eat up on the mashed potatoes, apple sauce, yogurt and pudding.
A food particle that gets stuck in the area where the protective blood clot is can interfere with the clot’s function in the dry socket.
Dr. Dahan is a general dentist with a focus on TMJ disorder, facial pain, snoring and sleep apnea management.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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