As the saying goes, your eyes may be the window to your soul but your jaw is the doorbell. But what happens when that doorbell feels off? You might have a misaligned jaw. Don’t know what a misaligned jaw is? Well, fear not! This article will give you all the information you need to determine whether or not your jaw needs fixing.

What Is a Misaligned Jaw?

First things first, let’s define just what we’re talking about here. A misaligned jaw occurs when one of the two parts of your skull that form either side of your head doesn’t line up properly with each other. The medical term for this condition is malocclusion and can lead to pain in various parts of your face as well as trouble speaking or eating.

Symptoms

So how do you tell if it’s actually happening to you? Here are some key symptoms to keep an eye out for:

Difficulty Chewing

If you experience difficulty chewing solid food on one side of the mouth but can easily chew on the other side- then that’s a hint something is amiss!

Speech Impediments

Another sign of misalignment could show up in the way someone speaks — speech impediments tend only occur in people whose lower jaws are improperly positioned relative their upper jaws.

Headaches

It sounds completely counterintuitive – after all, how does having problems with teeth equate so much pain elsewhere in our bodies? However, research shows us time and again that individuals who suffer from TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder) often exhibit chronic headaches & migraines among other issues such as dizziness etc., thus indicating potential mal-occlusions too!

Clicking/Popping Noises While Eating/Discussing/Opening Mouth

While normally dismissed by most people since they don’t usually feel any pain during this transmission – clicking or popping sounds coming from my jaw felt happen to be one of the surest signs you should get your dentist on the phone.

Causes

So now that we’ve established some possible signs and symptoms, what are the root causes of a misaligned jaw?

Genetics

We have our parents to thank for countless things in life besides just good looks because genetics plays a huge role here as well! Some people are just born with jaws that don’t line up correctly.

Injury/Tramatic Incident

Injuries caused by sports, car accidents, or even simple falls can cause damage leading to similar dental problems mentioned earlier.

Bruxism

One lesser-known but equally villainous cause ​​is teeth grinding (i.e., bruxism). Grinding your teeth over an extended period has been linked to developing facial muscle asymmetry which can eventually lead one part nearer towards collapsing under its own weight causing further misalignments downstream.

When Should You See A Doctor?

If you think you’re experiencing issues related to malocclusion then it’s best not to wait too long before consulting with a qualified medical physician:

• Jaw pains & facial discomfort lasting longer more than 2 days is enough reason
• If Teeth Touching Isn’t Equal
• Having constant headaches may hint something is wrong.
• Excessive migraine / dizziness coupled along when dealing w normal routine activities such as yawning; might indicate it’s time look into professional help?

And remember , catching these signs early increases chances corrective procedures like wearing braces etc will succeed !

How Is It Diagnosed?

Wondering how doctors diagnose a misaligned jaw? Here are some common approaches –

1. X-rays: the classic diagnostic tool hitting those above/below targets pretty well
2. Computerised tomography scanning : CT scans product great images analyzing underlying structure imbalances!
3. Facial photographs: have been known to capture important information about any asymmetry of the face for further examination

Doctors use these procedures combined with physical exams like alignment checks in some cases just to make sure they made no mistake earlier diagnosis too.

Treatment of Misaligned Jaw

Now that you know more than if your jaw is misaligned, here are a few treatment options available.

Braces

The braces mentioned above aren’t just for aesthetic purposes but could help realign teeth and fix a misaligned jaw! The process may take from anywhere between 6 – 24 months depending on how much work needs doing, so be patient.

Surgery

In extreme scenarios where braces maybe not amenable or do enough good (eg bones/jaws growing incorrectly leading fixed roles being defined within those structures), surgery (or orthognathic surgery as it’s professionally called) might still have its place!

It’s not only capable of providing immediate results — reducing prolonged pain risks at onset – but also serves both functional & cosmetic objectives fulfilling their job correctly in aiding mal-occlusion corrections. Drastic measures often call same drastic timeframes for spoken recovery efforts though; so patients need reevaluating post-op stage too ensuring everything worked according plan establishing lasting relief from day one !

Dentist-prescribed remedies:

There are less invasive fixes sometimes adopted by dentists aligned towards issues could include grinding hygiene check-ins or wearing custom-made dental splints/partial plates placed over your existing teeth partially during specific times such as while sleeping.

These simple solutions offer little-to-no risk while giving new life found within optimum functioning jaws raising confidence levels humans tend harness due enhanced socialization etc.!

Prevention Is Better Than Cure — How To Avoid Misaligning Your Jaw

“A penny saved is a penny earned” says Ben Franklin thereby flaunting history proven adages stacked against us ‘preference beings’. By taking these steps, you could avoid misaligning your jaw altogether:

Don’t Chew Gum Too Much

Chewing gums for prolonged periods induces pain as it exerts pressure on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Instead, a much more considered alternative maybe maintain oral hygiene by regularly brushing/washing out with mouthwash?

Wear Protective Gear For Sports and Outdoors Activities

The age-old wisdom that still holds is to wear sports gear during any sports or adventure we make ourselves undertake. It helps secure us from possible trauma which may temporarily(or irrevocably in some cases) disfigure our dental aspects leading troubles later.

In conclusion: if your jaw is misaligned or even borders somewhere within that margin too; then chances are there exist few treatment options available near-assuredly meant for whatever specific needs one might have. Please consult reliable sources be assured all pressing issues’ve been taken care of before making important life-altering decisions regarding this issue!!

So do yourself a favor today & check whether any signs mentioned above mean any symptoms currently frustrating your daily routines !(eg speech impediments, difficulties when eating/chewing food etc.) – Trust me, future self shall indeed thank current version five-fold!