Whether you are engaging in small talk with your family, making presentations in your office, or simply chatting with strangers in the grocery store, your speech is important! Sadly, millions of people are afflicted by a condition that can have negative effects on their ability to verbally communicate: TMJ disorder. How exactly could TMJ disorder affect your speech? This blog post explains what you should know. It also provides tips on how you can find relief and reclaim your ability to speak with ease.
TMD and Speech Problems
TMJ disorder, also known as TMD, is a condition that affects the small joints in front of your ears (the temporomandibular joints, TMJs). They are responsible for controlling the movement of your lower jaw. When the TMJs are injured or stressed, it can have consequences for nearby muscles. A range of symptoms may result, including difficulties with speech.
Here are a few examples of how TMD may affect your ability to speak:
- TMD can lead to stiffness and pain in the facial muscles, causing your speech to become slurred.
- You might experience lockjaw or limited jaw movement, which may completely prevent you from speaking.
- Your jaw joints might click and pop, leading you to feel self-conscious when you talk.
- Due to pain in your facial muscles, you might try to limit your mouth’s movements. You may therefore experience a reduced ability to speak loudly and clearly.
- You might find that you no longer want to speak due to the discomfort caused by your condition.
What Can You Do?
TMD is a complex problem, but the good news is that in most cases, it is highly treatable. Here are a few steps you can take that may improve your ability to speak easily and comfortably:
- Consult your dentist. Many dentists are well-trained in the nuances of how to treat TMD. They may recommend that you start wearing a custom splint or that you undergo minor adjustments to your bite.
- Try heat and cold therapy. Heat can relax stressed muscles, and cold temperatures may reduce inflammation and pain. While hot and cold will not cure your TMD, they may provide temporary relief.
- Exercise your face. Some simple jaw exercises may strengthen your facial muscles and improve their ability to function.
- Get enough rest. If you are in severe pain, try to speak only when absolutely necessary. Also, try to eat only soft foods for a while.
Your ability to speak is precious! Rather than simply enduring through the pain of TMJ disorder, seek help from a professional so you can get back to conversing with ease.
Meet the Practice
Dr. Harvey J. Mahler has more than 30 years of experience in dentistry. He has extensive knowledge in how to address TMD, and he has already helped countless patients find relief from jaw pain and associated symptoms. If you believe that TMD is limiting your ability to speak, Dr. Mahler and our team would love to help you find relief. Contact Smile 312 in Chicago at 312-263-5262 to learn more about how we may be able to serve you.