Is your child experiencing head and facial pain as a result of TMD? Are you not sure? No worries. We are here to help you find out. Here at the TMJ and Sleep Therapy Centre of Metro Detroit, we are specialists in the treatment of TMD and head/facial pain in children. We also treat adults, but we know that childhood TMD has its own set of challenges and origins.
Yes, temporomandibular disorder (TMJ) and temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD) are both more commonly seen in adults, but it’s found a lot in children and teens as well. These conditions can result in painful headaches, jaw pain and facial pain. As a parent, you may have noticed your child has been complaining of these symptoms but you may have dismissed them as stemming from some other source.
Call the TMJ and Sleep Therapy Centre of Metro Detroit now for a free consultation for your child with Dr. Roman Sadikoff at (586) 949-2516.
Common Symptoms to be on the Lookout For
The biggest symptom of TMD/facial pain in children is teeth grinding, also known as bruxism. Kids, like adults, often grind their teeth at night without even realizing it, usually due to stress but sometimes it just happens. Bruxism is the official term for grinding or clenching of the teeth, classified as a sleep movement disorder.
Teeth grinding is not normal and must be treated in order to address the root cause of your child’s facial, head or neck pain. You may assume your child will grow out of it, but this is not the case. It’s a red flag for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which can put your child on a long path of having lifetime TMD and TMJ issues, as well as orthopedic development problems.
The most common symptoms of TMD/facial pain in children are:
- Morning headaches and facial pain
- Teeth grinding at night (listen for it…you can often hear the gnashing)
- Limited mouth and jaw movement
- Frequent requests for over-the-counter medications for head and facial pain
- Shortened, blunted or fractured baby teeth
TMD, Headaches and Facial Pain: Getting at the Root Cause
Can you answer yes to these questions? Does your child:
- Suffer from debilitating headaches, jaw pain and facial pain?
- Experience pain in the jaw, neck, head or face?
- Have problems while chewing or biting?
- Experience popping or clicking sounds when opening and closing their mouth?
They may have a TMJ disorder, which affects kids of any age but are more common in teens, especially girls. Clenching of the jaw or clenching of the teeth can often make a TMJ disorder in children more likely. Not only does it overwork the TMJ, it can make the joint wear down or move out of place, alter the alignment of the bite and impacts muscles used to chew food.
Contact the TMJ and Sleep Therapy Centre of Metro Detroit
If your child suffers from TMD head and facial pain in Southeast Michigan, call the TMJ and Sleep Therapy Centre of Metro Detroit today at (586) 949-2516.