{"id":86,"date":"2025-09-01T15:19:13","date_gmt":"2025-09-01T15:19:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.juniperdentalsantafe.com\/blog\/?p=86"},"modified":"2025-10-20T14:37:24","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T14:37:24","slug":"treat-tmj-disorder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.juniperdentalsantafe.com\/blog\/2025\/09\/01\/treat-tmj-disorder\/","title":{"rendered":"What Could Happen If I Don\u2019t Treat My TMJ Disorder?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.juniperdentalsantafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-300x200.png\" alt=\"Woman rubbing her aching jaw \" class=\"wp-image-87\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.juniperdentalsantafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/www.juniperdentalsantafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image.png 594w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ve been diagnosed with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.juniperdentalsantafe.com\/tmj-therapy.html\">TMJ disorder<\/a> \u2013 which basically means the joint connecting your upper and lower jaw is misaligned or overly stressed. But is treating such a problem worth it? What could happen if you <em>don\u2019t <\/em>address your disorder? Would the consequences really be all that bad?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re experiencing discomfort on a regular basis, that alone is enough of a reason to seek out professional guidance. But not treating a TMJ disorder can also have some pretty serious effects on your health!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Chronic Pain and Inflammation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your TMJ joint can\u2019t realign or repair itself. So what might just be periodic bouts of discomfort now could very well become a constant ache as the underlying issue continues to go unaddressed. Until your TMJ is treated, your body will likely continue to send pain signals to your brain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Inflammation, too, can become chronic, as this is your body\u2019s natural response to an injury. Uncontrolled inflammation is a bigger problem than you might think \u2013 it can weaken your immune system and make you more prone to infections and other systemic diseases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Joint Damage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If your TMJ is misaligned or absorbing too much physical stress, there\u2019s a chance the joint will eventually become damaged. Depending on the nature of your disorder, it\u2019s also possible other nearby bones will experience severe wear and tear as well. At the end of the day, a TMJ disorder is much easier to treat than joint and bone damage!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequent Headaches<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Have you been getting more headaches recently? The muscles in your face are so close to each other that when one area develops tension, it can have a ripple effect. Frequent headaches, neck pain, and even shoulder stiffness aren\u2019t uncommon in patients with TMJ disorders. Rather than take ibuprofen every day, it\u2019s best to simply take care of your TMJ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sleep Apnea<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Believe it or not, TMJ disorders can contribute to obstructive sleep apnea! If your TMJ is misaligned, odds are your jaw and surrounding oral tissue are also \u201cout of position.\u201d This can block your airway, making it harder to get oxygen while lying down and causing your brain to jolt you awake in the middle of the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your TMJ disorder might not seem like a big deal now, but if you don\u2019t get it treated, you could develop unpleasant health issues that can negatively impact your quality of life \u2013 and comfort! Fortunately, TMJ solutions are often simple and provide relief within a few weeks. By working with a qualified professional to address the root cause of your jaw pain, you can secure your long-term wellness. That\u2019s definitely worth it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Author<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.juniperdentalsantafe.com\/meet-dr-zhang.html\">Dr. Haiwen Zhang<\/a> earned his dental degree from the Medical University of South Carolina James B. Edward College of Dental Medicine. He\u2019s also completed advanced training courses at the Pankey Institute and Spear Education, making him incredibly experienced in diagnosing and treating TMJ disorders. If you need TMJ relief, don\u2019t wait \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.juniperdentalsantafe.com\/contact.html\">call Dr. Zhang<\/a> today at 505-372-1121.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You\u2019ve been diagnosed with a TMJ disorder \u2013 which basically means the joint connecting your upper and lower jaw is misaligned or overly stressed. But is treating such a problem worth it? What could happen if you don\u2019t address your disorder? Would the consequences really be all that bad? If you\u2019re experiencing discomfort on a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-86","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What Could Happen If I Don\u2019t Treat My TMJ Disorder? | Juniper Dental<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Not treating a TMJ disorder can result in unpleasant chronic health issues. 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