TMJ Treatment

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Migraine Headache and TMJ Syndrome

If you are suffering from chronic recurring headaches, then you may have TMJ syndrome. During the 1970’s, the condition was wildly misdiagnosed, but recent new imaging techniques, such as MRI’s have made diagnosis easier by allowing a better look inside the affected facial joint.

TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint syndrome or temporal mandibular joint dysfunction. The condition has not yet been fully understood as to what the direct cause or causes are. But it usually occurs when the joints have become worn down by constant grinding of the teeth during sleep(bruxism), become abnormally shaped due to a trauma, have a misaligned bite, have worn braces for an extended period of time, or have osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. With other patients, the causes have not yet been established accordingly. Migraine sets in when the constant clenching of the jaw causes abnormal muscle spasms in the temples.

Symptoms of TMJ are: pain in and around the ear and jaw area, stiffness and/or swelling of the jaw and face, a clicking sound when the jaw is opened and closed, discomfort when chewing, spasms making the jaw lock when opened, and finally headaches.

Tests by a doctor involves studying sleeping habits, as well as grinding habits in general, a thorough examination of the jaw by way of X-rays, CT scan or an MRI , and blood tests for rheumatoid arthritis. If teeth problems are the cause, a visit to an orthodontist who specializes in TMJ treatment should be made.

Headaches may be lessened when TMJ is treated accordingly. Below are some treatments to consider which may done one at a time or in combination to have the best results to help reduce pain.
Overuse of jaw muscles. Avoid eating chewing gum, chewy candy and food that are hard to to chew, as this gives undue stress to the joints.

Dental Repairs. Have dental work done to correct an overbite, filing down and repairing of misaligned teeth.

Appliances. The dentist may make a special bite plate or splint to be worn at night to help in teeth alignment, and a night guard appliance to help stop grinding.

Medications. Treatment by heat application, anti-inflammatory medicines, and muscle relaxants may be prescribed. If the case is somewhat severe, steroids may be used for a short period.  The drug Elavil may be taken when spasms of the jaw muscles contribute to the problem.

Surgery. When all else fails, surgery is the last option to help alleviate  pain, and to repair the badly damaged joints.

In retrospect, prevention, though minimal, still plays an important part in cases of migraine headaches and TMJ. As the saying goes “an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure”  rings true.

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TMJ Excerises: A Solution To A Painful Problem

Exercise strengthens our body, and just about every single part of it including our jaws. Just as there are exercises for our knees, shoulders, and other joints, there are also exercises for our temporomandibular joint or simply, TMJ. TMJ is responsible for making our jaws move, controlling the opening and closing of our mouths. It also allows our jaws to move from side to side. TMJ is covered with cartilage and has a disk in it that prevents wear and tear as our jaws move. Eating gives our jaws a lot of exercise but there are other ways with which we can improve the health of our jaws.

Not all people suffer from TMJ disorder, but 5 to 15 percent of the population experience problems with their TMJs that often includes pain. TMJ exercises give us ways to beat complications that come with TMJ conditions. It is important though that we observe TMJ exercises properly to prevent further injuries.

Much like other joints in our body, we should allow our TMJ to rest when we experience soreness in it. Give your sore TMJ time to heal before you give it some exercise. Applying a warm or cold compress typically eases the pain you feel. If you feel the discomfort has subsided, you can start doing some exercises to help strengthen your jaw and the muscles surrounding it. Take extra caution when doing facial yoga exercises. Although facial yoga exercises can also improve the strength of your jaws, they can also cause harm when not done properly or when done excessively.

Before you start doing any jaw exercise or tmj treatment, try to determine the cause of your discomfort. There are TMJ disorders caused by the shifting of your teeth and this condition cannot be treated by facial exercises. There also cases when the discomfort is stress-induced. Ask for medical advice to better determine the cause and severity of your disorder and before you apply any exercise or treatment for your jaw.

There are lots of reasons to exercise your TMJ regularly. One could be to improve the strength of your TMJ and your jaw to help keep you from having TMJ disorders. Remember to take necessary caution while doing your exercises, especially when you start to feel pain.

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TMJ Cure- What Is The Best Solution?

TMJ is short for temporomandibular joint disorder and having this condition is something that one should take seriously. A person who has TMJ condition experiences pain attacks in the upper and lower jaw bones - something that can become very inconvenient. It is vital that one should take charge of this condition by learning more about the treatment of TMJ.

Various methods of TMJ treatment are available. However, several patients are frustrated with TMJ solutions. They either find themselves with aggravated symptoms or they simply do not find the kind of relief they have expected from such cures. Sometimes, patients forget that not every TMJ treatment works for everybody. There are also those who improperly apply the TMJ cure they have resorted to. And others have not chosen the kind of treatment that is appropriate to their condition. The last happens a lot when a patient is misdiagnosed and is given a totally different or wrong remedy, oftentimes resulting to even more difficulties.

A misdiagnosis of TMJ can happen when the doctor a person has sought advice from is not an expert in the said condition. Some experts in TMJ disorder sometimes give treatments that are limited to a specific area of expertise. This is why there is no panacea for TMJ conditions. The success of different methods of TMJ varies from one person to another. To ensure that you are getting the proper advice, seek one from a reputable specialist. Getting a second, and even a third, opinion also helps in assessing the methods of treatment that one would choose.

In the treatment of TMJ disorder, it is best to select non-invasive procedures. Have your condition double checked as it might not require surgery and heavy medication. Resort to surgery and heavy medication when there are no other means alleviate it but an invasive one. Remember, some invasive solutions are irreversible and can cause more harm when unsuccessful.

One non-invasive solution you can try is exercise. Jaw massage and jaw exercises can help relieve the pain you feel. You can start with gently opening and closing your mouth then moving your jaws from one side to another. If you choose to follow specific exercises, you can always ask help from your doctor.

Another natural way of dealing with TMJ disorder is eating the right food. Sticking to a soft diet is a possible treatment. A soft diet keeps you from using your jaws excessively. Avoiding chewing gum also helps.

Managing TMJ disorder can be difficult, especially when you experience a lot of stress. It is also possible that a TMJ condition results from stress. There are lots of ways to fight stress, including stress reduction classes and simply reminding yourself to relax when stressful situations come your way.

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Symptoms Of TMJ

TMJ, or Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome, is a wide-sweeping term for acute or chronic inflammation in the TMJ joint which connects to the skull. You have two of these, one on each side. TMJ pain is often mistaken for other problems such as earaches. The problem has nothing to do with the ear but often causes pain in that area since that is near where the joint connects to the skull. Here are a few symptoms of TMJ that can help you determine if the discomfort you’re feeling is actually TMJ pain.

  • Pain in the facial muscles and joints: TMJ can cause pain and soreness especially if it is creating lock jaw, locking shut or making it difficult to open the mouth. Pain is usually in front of the joint itself, just below the ear, but it can move elsewhere on the face.
  • Pain in the ears: Patients often mistake TMJ for earaches. When the joint grinds back and forth patients typically feel that they are experiencing ear pain because the joint is too close for them to differentiate where it is occurring. This could cause ringing in the ears and hearing problems.
  • Clicking or popping noises: The TMJ treatment might not be needed if there is no discomfort in the clicking or popping noises. The clicking or popping noises happen when the joints move or are out of place. It can become loud enough for others to hear as well. This is one of the most common symptoms of TMJ.
  • Swelling on the affected side of the head: The patient’s face and mouth may swell from the irritation of their joints.
  • Headaches: Headaches are common but not all patients with TMJ experience this kind of TMJ pain. These headaches can lead to dizziness or nausea.
  • Difficulty biting down properly: If one side or one joint becomes sorer than the other patients may find themselves favoring a side of their mouth that produces less TMJ pain. When this happens they create a habit of opening and closing their mouth improperly.

This is not a conclusive list of TJM symptoms. TMJ can be caused by trauma, disease, aging, or bad habits such as excessive gum chewing or grinding. To have TMJ you could have one or all of the above TMJ symptoms. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and you think they could be TMJ pain, you should to have them looked at.

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