Fibromyalgia commonly affects orofacial health, presenting with a variety of oral manifestations, including temporomandibular disorder, xerostomia, glossodynia, and dysgeusia.
Grinding wears down tooth enamel, can cause teeth to break, and exacerbates the pain of TMJ. Of course, going to the dentist presents its own set of problems. My dental hygienist is amazing. She knows that I have FM, and takes extra precautions when I go in.
According to the American College of Rheumatology, temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD/TMJ) frequently occurs with fibromyalgia. Bruxism (teeth grinding) is associated with TMD and can interfere with restorative sleep, a primary symptom of fibromyalgia, and many fibromyalgia patients also complain of having a dry mouth.
According to research administered by the National Institutes of Health, fibromyalgia patients have a high incidence of TMJ disorder and exhibit classic TMJ symptoms such as clicking or popping sounds during mouth movement, along with facial pain and muscle pain in the head and neck.
For people who suffer from fibromyalgia, performing even the simplest tasks can produce agonizing pain. Facial and jaw pain could result from something as common as chewing, yawning, or talking. Experiencing this pain on a daily basis, multiple times per day, may lead fibromyalgia sufferers to brace their jaw muscles.
Fibromyalgia can cause teeth grinding
And that can wear down tooth enamel, cause further decay and even break teeth leading to awful pain.
It's possible for fibromyalgia to be linked to pain in the muscles of the jaw and face (temporomandibular joint disorder) or to myofascial (skeletal muscle) pain in one part of the body. Such occurrences could be considered forms of regional or localized or incomplete fibromyalgia.
Trigeminal neuralgia is sudden, severe facial pain. It's often described as a sharp shooting pain or like having an electric shock in the jaw, teeth or gums. It usually happens in short, unpredictable attacks that can last from a few seconds to about 2 minutes. The attacks stop as suddenly as they start.
Avoid foods that require heavy chewing or jaw widening; Use thermal therapies like warm compresses or ice packs to ease jaw stiffness and pain; Practice relaxation techniques to reduce stress in your life; Ask about muscle relaxants or other medications that might help.
Possible Causes
Temporomandibular joint disorder often causes jaw pain. Other common causes include: Abscessed tooth: An abscessed tooth is a pocket of pus around a tooth that's caused by a bacterial infection. An abscessed tooth may cause jaw pain.
Fibromyalgia can be associated with ocular symptoms (foreign body sensation, irritation) and visual disturbances (blurred vision), coexisting with dry eye syndrome and reduced corneal sensitivity. Cases of scleritis, including the necrotizing form, accompanying fibromyalgia have been reported.
Tooth sensitivity is often linked to weakened tooth enamel or receding gumlines. If you visit your dentist regularly and begin to experience tooth sensitivity, it may be due to enamel wear; however, severe tooth sensitivity could be due to serious tooth decay or a cracked tooth that has led to tooth root exposure.
Extreme sensitivity. Fibromyalgia can make you extremely sensitive to pain all over your body, and you may find that even the slightest touch is painful. If you hurt yourself, such as stubbing your toe, the pain may continue for much longer than it normally would.
When you are sick with the cold or the flu, your entire body may feel sore, including your teeth. Sinus inflammation is the primary cause of most illness related tooth pain. The upper molars on both sides of the mouth are positioned directly underneath the maxillary sinuses.
Magnesium. Magnesium deficiency can lead to tense, spastic muscles. It also contributes to bone strength, nerve function, and cartilage health. In combination with calcium, these two supplements can work together to help relax your jaw muscles and relieve your TMJs of excess strain and tension.
While watching yourself in a mirror, gently open and close your mouth, dropping your jaw straight up and down. Repeat for a few minutes each morning and night. Look for small improvements in the jaw's range of motion as you practice this exercise from day to day.
If one or more of your teeth is suddenly overly sensitive to heat, cold, or sugar, you probably have a cavity. Finally, try resting your face for a time and/or massaging the temporomandibular joint. If the pain seems to lessen or dissipate, it may be TMJ pain.
Tooth sensitivity occurs when the inner layer of your tooth, known as dentin, becomes exposed. This type of toothache occurs even when there's no cavity to find. Dentin usually becomes exposed when there's a wearing away of enamel or gum recession.
Fibromyalgia was formerly classified as an inflammatory musculoskeletal disease but is now considered to be an illness that primarily affects the central nervous system.
Fibromyalgia is known as an “invisible disease.” You can't see brain fog, digestive issues, muscle weakness; sensitivity to light, noise, and odors. But they are part of our “new normal” and while we may not look sick, we absolutely know we are.