Should I get Braces or a Nightguard for teeth-grinding at night?
You have a TMJ problem but you need to be properly diagnosed to determine whether it’s a primary TMJ or secondary TMJ problem. Eating hard foods do not cause TMJ but will aggravate an existing TMJ disorder. Grinding/clenching can cause SECONDARY TMJ and can aggravate a Primary TMJ condition. The difference between primary TMJ and secondary TMJ is primary TMJ involves a pathologic condition from the get go while a secondary TMJ condition starts with a normal TMJ that has been pushed into a pathologic state by some external factor such as a bad habit (clenching/grinding). A secondary TMJ disorder is resolved by eliminating the external factor and then the TMJ will return back to its original normal state. A primary TMJ condition needs to have permanent changes to the jaw, teeth, and bite to correct it. Common causes of primary TMJ disorders are deep overbites, Class II jaws (retruded chins), history of head trauma, and traditional braces involving bicuspid extractions. If you have second
