About Articular Eminence

If you’ve ever dealt with jaw pain or a jaw injury, you’ve probably wondered what happened structurally, and whether or not there are aspects that are vital to the functions of this.  Most of us never considered though what stops out jaw from opening super wide. 

That is the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, which is vital for the function of the jaws. The most particular part of this is what’s called the articular eminence. Here, we’ll discuss the role of this, how this will fit into your TMJ anatomy, and also potential issues too. 

This may seem strange initially, but once you learn a bit more about this, you’ll understand why this is important. 

The articular point of this is pretty much a movable joint.  The eminence is pretty much a projection or raised area of the temporal portion of your skull. 

This is part of the temporal bone, which is a fused part of where the skull is by the ears. The AE is a part of the lower half of the ear area, near the font. It is positioned in front of the hinge on your lower jaw portion, moving downward to get into a semicircular shape. 

The role 

The role of this is pretty much part of the three motion planes, which include going upwards and downwards, each side, and of course the back and forth motion. The AE is a unique structure that guides the pathway near the top part of your jawbone, which is known as the condyle, and the rotation that’s there too. 

The articular tubercle is where the ligaments attach to the TMJ in a lateral sense, with the condule moving it to open up the jaw. 

This portion does actually control how far the jaw is able to open.  When the mandible is lowered, the AE does restrict it by controlling the ability to rotate, and this works with the articular disk toto cushion your movements too. 

Disorders and Treatment 

This can potentially get hurt and affected in some cases, and this is what leads to disorders of TMJ, and that includes clenching and grinding. 

If you notice that there are jaw problems, you should talk to your doctor sooner rather than down the road, and you may need some care for this. 

This is very common, and there are different causes to this, and it can manifest into different symptoms. 

Grinding, clicking, or even popping and tightness or limited mobility of the jaw is very common. T his can actually cause problems based on the angle of this too, and it can intensify with different issues. 

This can sometimes go away over time on its own, but for those more permanent instances, you do need to treat it. The treatments can include pain relievers, medications to treat inflammation, or even relaxers for the muscle. 

Ice along with heat may be used to help relieve this, along with a mouth guard so you’re not grinding. In the worst-case scenario and it’s not getting better, you will need to get surgery for this. But for the most part, that’s considered a last resort, and that also is dependent on the pain that you’re going through too. 

Regardless though, you should most definitely make sure that you get the most that you can out of this, and make sure that you do get the help that you need to take care of the jaw pain, and if it’s affecting that area, you should definitely look into treatment options for this problem so you’re not in pain, and your jaw stops clicking.

Heart Disease and Oral health: The Connection

Did you know that your oral health is much more intimately connected than you think? There is now evidence between oral health and heart disease connections. New studies have shown that for those with mild to moderate gum disease, they may be at risk for heart disease compared to those with healthy gums. Oral healthcare does provide warning signs for a variety of conditions and diseases too, including those in the heart. 

So can Bad teeth really cause heart Problems? 

Yes, it can. This is because of the bacteria and germ spread that happens from the mouth to various other parts of the body, entering via the bloodstream. When they reach the heart, they’ll attach to damaged areas, creating inflation. Of course, according to the mayo clinic, this may result in endocarditis, which is an infection involving the inner lining parts of the heart. It can also cause a risk of atherosclerosis to form, along with stroke, both of which are linked by oral bacteria. 

Who’s at Risk? 

Those with chronic gum conditions, including periodontitis and gingivitis, are at a higher risk for heart disease due to bad oral health. This is especially true if it remains unmanaged and undiagnosed.  The bacteria that’s associated directly with oral infections does enter the bloodstream. It attaches to the blood vessels, increasing one’s risk for heart disease. 

Even if one doesn’t have noticeable inflation, good oral hygiene is something that can help with reducing the amount of biofilm that shows up, and also reduces your heart disease risk even more. 

Bacteria does move, and it can go to the bloodstream. This causes the C reactive protein, which marks inflammation for one’s blood vessels, to increase.

 

Yes, this can increase your risk for stroke, depending upon who you are. 

Signs, Symptoms and Prevention 

So what should you look out for if you may be at risk for this? 

Well, if you’ have gum disease, especially in its early stages, which puts you at risk for heart disease. 

Some other signs include: 

• Red, swollen gums that are sore to touch 

• They bleed when you brush, eat or floss your teeth. 

• There’s pus, or other infection signs around the teeth and gums 

• They’re pulling away from the teeth. 

• You’ve got bad breath, or bad taste in your mouth. 

• You have teeth that are loose, or feel like they’re moving away from the other teeth too 

Now that you know abut this, how can you prevent it? 

Well, the best way is oral hygiene.  Protecting your teeth and practicing good oral hygiene prevents the brunt of this. 

Brushing your teeth twice daily with a soft-bristled toothbrush that fits within the mouth is your first place to start. This helps keep the teeth surfaces adequately brushed.

Also, use an ADA-certified toothpaste proven as well by many to increase one’s gum health in about four weeks. 

Finally, make sure that you floss daily, and also see your dental hygienist to get regular cleanings, especially if you need it. 

When you take care of your oral health, you help your body health, and you also protect yourself from developing these heart-body connections, including heart disease and other such problems.  You’ll be able to keep the smile clean, healthy, and even beautiful, throughout all parts of your life. 

Your oral health does matter, and for a lot of people, there are a lot of great ways to make your oral health really shine. The best way to prevent bad things is to be proactive, so do something about this right away.