Chewing gum can cause persistent headaches

For almost 2 years, Chris Cullen often had headaches, dizziness and a constant clogged ear. He was also exhausted and in a depressed mood.

Since starting to encounter these problems in February 2011, Chris, from Fulham, West London, has visited 15 specialists, including cardiologists, neurologists and doctors. Chiropractic treatment.

Each doctor made a different diagnosis, from low blood pressure to spinal problems. However, none of them can explain all of Chris's symptoms. When I met my doctor in March 2012, Chris was very desperate. The doctor had diagnosed Chris with depression and prescribed antidepressants, but Chris refused.

The 28-year-old project manager said: "From the bottom of it, I knew my problem was not depression. But the more tests and tests I conducted, the more I felt worried and caught. early doubting myself . Is ironic, at that time, I could be slightly depressed ".

Chris finally agreed to try depression medicine. However, after a few weeks of taking medicine, Chris did not see any improvement in symptoms. Desperate, Chris went online to search for information. All search data lead to temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJD).

Chewing gum much in the evening can lead to temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJD).

According to the documents, jaw joints act as a hinge, which can slide forward or backward. The jaw bone is held in place by the muscles attached to the joint next to the ear. A cartilage plate acts as a shock absorber between the jaw and the skull.

Erectile dysfunction or temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD) is a broad concept that points to any problem with joints, muscles surrounding it or cartilage discs. It can cause jaw pain, difficulty opening the mouth or sometimes creating a click.

"The clatter itself is not a problem. But it may be a sign that different parts of the function do not work in harmony," explained Professor Andrew Eder, a restorative dental specialist. .

The British Ministry of Health statistics show that TMJD attacks one-fifth of us, at some point in our lives. The common cause of the disease is because the muscles and ligaments around the jaw are overactive, causing inflammation from chewing gum or grinding teeth regularly at night. Specifically, according to Professor Eder, when you tighten your teeth as you chew gum or grit your teeth, your jaw joints cannot slip back and forth and this causes strain on your muscles, teeth and joints.

In addition, jaw joints can be pushed out of position due to a strong blow to the head, dentures are not properly installed, dental treatment, nail biting or even yawning or opening your mouth too wide to eat . Other conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, gout, can also cause stiffness, swelling and joint pain. Very rarely, but TMJD may originate from a tumor in the jawbone.

Although malfunctions often go away on their own, in severe cases, the cartilage disc may slip too far from the position, causing the bones to rub against each other, causing wear and tear. Common symptoms of TMJD are headache, pain that spreads to the neck or back, tinnitus and dizziness. Although TMJD does not directly cause depression, it can become a symptom of depression.

Patients with chronic TMJ need to have orthodontic treatment or surgery. In Chris's case, due to being so severe, he needed surgery to restore the cartilage's position.