What is TMJ?
The temporomandibular joint is the hinge joint of the jaw that connects the lower jaw (mandible) to the temporal bone of the skull. This joint is an articular disc composed of fibrocartilagenous tissue. It comprises, all in all, of six parts: mandibular condyles, articular surface of the temporal bone, capsule, articular disc, ligaments and lateral pterygoid. The TM Joint facilitates movement of the jaws, thereby allowing essential functions like talking, eating and swallowing. Needless to say, the slightest afflictions caused to this joint, disrupt a great deal of its basic functions. The most common affliction that occurs is the TMJ Disorder. So, what is TMJ Disorder?
The TMJ Disorder is a term used to describe an acute inflammation of the TM Joint. It is categorized in three ways:
1. By myofascial pain: The fascia is the tissue that connects the different parts of your body. Fascia around the muscles is called myofascial. Thus, any injury to the myofascial, will automatically adversely affect the muscles. The most common TMJ disorder is associated with myofascial pain in the jaw muscles and neck.
2. By internal injury: Any dislocation, injury, or indeed, any derangement in the joint results in TMJ disorder.
3. By degenerative joint disease: Problems like osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis of the jaw are underlying causes of TMJ disorder. It can't be stated for certain what exactly causes TMJ disorder, although there are some standard contributing factors. These can be classified into dental issues (such as ill fitting dentures, tooth removal, missing teeth etc), injury or trauma (on or around the jaw), bad habits (like bruxism or wrong sleeping postures), social situations that cause stress and emotional upheavals (such as depression, anger or fear).
There are a number of signs that you can recognise as underlying symptoms of TMJ disorder. The most likely symptom is otalgia, more commonly known as earache. Since the TMJ is so close to the ear, if there's a disorder in the TMJ, there are bound to be repercussions in the ear. The other fairly common symptom is toothache. Although toothaches are caused due to a number of reasons, a TMJ disorder may bring about toothaches, tooth mobility or even tooth loss. Usually, if the above listed signs are accompanied by headaches, they could be signalling a chronic TMJ disorder.
A number of remedies are available for those suffering from TMJ disorder. In the initial stages of the condition, treatments like heat and ice therapy, or jaw resting techniques are used. Pain medications such as ibuprofen and naproxen are also prescribed. Corrective dental surgeries are used if the condition worsens. Sometimes a splint or bite plate may be required to be introduced. Non invasive and natural cures are also available. These may include stress reduction therapies, soft food diets and face and neck exercises.
For conditions like TMJ disorder, it is always advisable to take a multi dimensional approach. A holistic treatment strengthens your body from within. Therefore, it is much more affective to combine alternative and conventional treatments for long lasting relief. Thus, working on stress reduction methods, along with following a soft food diet and a face and neck exercise routine can go a long way in not only healing the TMJ disorder but also in preventing it from happening again.
What Are The Symptoms of TMJ?
The temporomandibular joint disorder is an affliction of the hinge joint (TMJ) that connects the jaw to the skull. The TM joint facilitates all movements of the jaw and therefore, a TMJ disorder might interfere with the most basic functions like eating and talking. To get timely help for this condition, it is essential to get it diagnosed at an early stage. Thus, recognizing the symptoms of TMJ disorder is the first step towards healing it.
Most of the symptoms are likely to occur on or around the jaw area. If you are suffering from TMJ disorder, there are chances that you will feel discomfort in your head, face, mouth, eyes, ears and even back. Contrary to popular belief, toothache is often a symptom rather than a cause of the TMJ disorder. The most common symptoms of TMJ disorder are clicking or grating noises on opening and closing the mouth. These noises occur when there is a slight dislocation of the jaw bones. They herald the onset of a TMJ disorder and must be paid attention to immediately.
For convenience of understanding, the symptoms can be divided into categories, based on which area they are exhibited. These categories are as follows:
1. Symptoms of the face and neck: These symptoms include pain in the jaw, jaw joint, teeth and in the muscles of the cheek. More complicated symptoms would involve uncontrollable tongue and jaw movements, teeth clenching during sleep and locking of the jaw resulting in the inability to open or close the mouth properly. Frequent coughing, intense salivation and voice moderations are among the lesser diagnosed but highly significant symptoms of TMJ disorder.
2. Symptoms of the Head: Aches in the forehead, migraine attacks and sinus pain are some of the common symptoms that occur in the head. Tinnitus, hearing problems, dizziness and lack of balance, clogged ears and blurred vision are other related symptoms.
3. Symptoms throughout the body: Often the pain and discomfort may spread to other parts of the body. These symptoms would involve soreness in the neck and in the shoulders, stiff neck, pain in the lower back and tingling in the tips of fingers and toes. More chronic symptoms include arthritis, reduced motion of limbs and extremely cold sensation in the hands and legs.
Most TMJ disorder symptoms overlap with symptoms of other health conditions. This is why contacting a dentist never occurs to most people suffering from the symptoms of TMJ disorder. The type and intensity of the symptoms may vary greatly from person to person. It is important to contact a health care practitioner at an early stage. One must at all costs avoid bad habits like bruxism and bad body posture. TMJ disorders are caused due to reasons ranging from mental stress to physical injury. It is best, therefore, to adopt a method of treatment that will be wholesome and multi dimensional.
Holistic treatments seek to treat the root cause of the condition thereby eradicating the problem in its entirety and preventing it from happening further. For instance, developing relaxation routines to bust stress and performing jaw and neck exercises to strengthen the TM joint would help to rejuvenate and sustain the degenerating muscles of the joint. Similarly, eating food rich in minerals and vitamins to invigorate the jaw muscles and combining it with healthy habits such as correct body postures would go a long way in healing the condition and restoring your body to a state of well being.
The Real Cause of TMJ Disorders
The temporomandibular joint disorder, called the TMJ in short, is a fairly common disorder of the jaw which affects nearly sixty million people in the American population. People who suffer from this condition are likely to experience pain that may be temporary, but may also last for at least a few years. For those who are affected with this problem, it is important to understand what causes TMJ disorder in order to treat it. It can't be stated for certain exactly what causes TMJ disorder, although there are some standard contributing factors. These factors can be categorized into the following groups:
1. Dental issues: TMJ disorder is most commonly caused as a result of derangement of the jaws. This is a condition known as "malocclusion" wherein your teeth are no longer able to fit together the way they are supposed to. This condition can be a result of situations such as ill fitting dentures, tooth removal or any minor or major dental surgery, missing teeth, advent of pre molars and growth of wisdom teeth.
2. Trauma: About 99% of TMJ sufferers claim that their condition was a result of some sort of trauma or injury. Even minor blows on the head, face or jaw can result in trauma. Whiplash and traction appliances used in whiplash injuries or problems like ill fitting braces can also prove to be contributing factors.
3. Habits: Some of the things we unwittingly do in our daily lives result in TMJ disorder. A common cause is bruxism, or the habit of continually clenching one's teeth. Bruxism puts undue pressure on the teeth and jaw resulting in the damage of cartilage and ligaments in the TMJ area. Other bad habits include chewing on pens/pencils, biting finger nails, chronic gum chewing and bad postures that put pressure on your face and jaw, such as, sleeping on your stomach and holding the phone on your shoulder.
4. Social situations: Stress has been known to cause tension in the muscles. Prolonged tightening of the muscles affects the TM Joint by putting enormous pressure on it. Eventually the tense muscles tend to shorten and result in misalignment. Social situations like family problems, financial issues, legal hassles and health concerns are stress inducers and must be dealt with.
5. Emotions: Emotional upheavals resulting from depression, anxiety, fear or anger have adverse affects that can negatively affect your whole body including the TM Joint.
Certain simple precautions should be kept in mind in order to prevent a TMJ disorder. For instance, although yawning is a reflex action, one must take care to not open one's mouth fully but partially while yawning. Similarly, excessive chewing of bubble gum, habits like biting nails or chewing on pencils must be avoided at all costs. As the TM joint facilitates essential activities like talking, chewing and swallowing, it is important to take care of it.
Since the causes of TMJ disorder are so varied, the approach to treating it should also be multi dimensional. There is a wide variety of treatment available for the condition, ranging from simple exercises to complicated corrective surgeries. However, if you are looking for a permanent solution to your problem, it is best to adopt a holistic approach. In treating the condition holistically, you strengthen your body and equip it to heal all by itself. Not only can your body recover from the ailment; it can also prevent future occurrences of it. In the case of TMJ disorder therefore, combining relaxation therapies, which would help reduce stress, with jaw exercises, such as controlled TMJ rotation, and working on body postures that affect the head and neck, would provide a wholesome remedy for TMJ disorder. Only through holistic treatment can your body be restored to a state of well being.
The temporomandibular joint disorder, called the TMJ in short, is a fairly common disorder of the jaw which affects nearly sixty million people in the American population. People who suffer from this condition are likely to experience pain that may be temporary, but may also last for at least a few years. For those who are affected with this problem, it is important to understand what causes TMJ disorder in order to treat it. It can't be stated for certain exactly what causes TMJ disorder, although there are some standard contributing factors. These factors can be categorized into the following groups:
1. Dental issues: TMJ disorder is most commonly caused as a result of derangement of the jaws. This is a condition known as "malocclusion" wherein your teeth are no longer able to fit together the way they are supposed to. This condition can be a result of situations such as ill fitting dentures, tooth removal or any minor or major dental surgery, missing teeth, advent of pre molars and growth of wisdom teeth.
2. Trauma: About 99% of TMJ sufferers claim that their condition was a result of some sort of trauma or injury. Even minor blows on the head, face or jaw can result in trauma. Whiplash and traction appliances used in whiplash injuries or problems like ill fitting braces can also prove to be contributing factors.
3. Habits: Some of the things we unwittingly do in our daily lives result in TMJ disorder. A common cause is bruxism, or the habit of continually clenching one's teeth. Bruxism puts undue pressure on the teeth and jaw resulting in the damage of cartilage and ligaments in the TMJ area. Other bad habits include chewing on pens/pencils, biting finger nails, chronic gum chewing and bad postures that put pressure on your face and jaw, such as, sleeping on your stomach and holding the phone on your shoulder.
4. Social situations: Stress has been known to cause tension in the muscles. Prolonged tightening of the muscles affects the TM Joint by putting enormous pressure on it. Eventually the tense muscles tend to shorten and result in misalignment. Social situations like family problems, financial issues, legal hassles and health concerns are stress inducers and must be dealt with.
5. Emotions: Emotional upheavals resulting from depression, anxiety, fear or anger have adverse affects that can negatively affect your whole body including the TM Joint.
Certain simple precautions should be kept in mind in order to prevent a TMJ disorder. For instance, although yawning is a reflex action, one must take care to not open one's mouth fully but partially while yawning. Similarly, excessive chewing of bubble gum, habits like biting nails or chewing on pencils must be avoided at all costs. As the TM joint facilitates essential activities like talking, chewing and swallowing, it is important to take care of it.
Since the causes of TMJ disorder are so varied, the approach to treating it should also be multi dimensional. There is a wide variety of treatment available for the condition, ranging from simple exercises to complicated corrective surgeries. However, if you are looking for a permanent solution to your problem, it is best to adopt a holistic approach. In treating the condition holistically, you strengthen your body and equip it to heal all by itself. Not only can your body recover from the ailment; it can also prevent future occurrences of it. In the case of TMJ disorder therefore, combining relaxation therapies, which would help reduce stress, with jaw exercises, such as controlled TMJ rotation, and working on body postures that affect the head and neck, would provide a wholesome remedy for TMJ disorder. Only through holistic treatment can your body be restored to a state of well being.
Natural Cure For TMJ
The temporomandibular joint disorder or the TMJ is a common health condition that affects nearly three fourths of the American population. The condition causes an acute inflammation of the TM joint and interferes with the basic functions of the jaw such as talking, eating or swallowing. As more and more people seek an alternative to allopathic and other conventional forms of medication, natural cure for TMJ is fast emerging as a safe and reliable option.
Natural cures for TMJ disorder cause little or no side effects. This is because most natural remedies are non invasive and do not interfere with the body's mechanism. If you too are looking for a credible and secure remedy for your TMJ disorder, these are some options available to you:
1. Acupuncture: The process of acupuncture involves sticking pins into predetermined points on the body that are known to relieve pain. According to traditional Chinese belief, acupuncture helps to balance the flow of energy in your body. Modern research shows that acupuncture releases and increases the flow of endorphins in the body. Thus the perception of pain to the brain is greatly reduced. With four to five sittings, the jaw can be moved back to its normal position, the clicking and grinding can reduce and it is possible to open your mouth normally. Within ten sessions, long lasting relief from pain can be achieved.
2. Massage: Massages are good for releasing tension and relaxing the muscles. To get relief from TMJ disorder, one needs to gently massage in small circular motions in front of, below and eventually behind the ears. It is also important to massage around the scalp, neck and shoulders to calm the muscles. A skilled masseuse may even be able to locate the lateral pterygoid at the back of your mouth and massage the area thereby bringing relief.
3. Proper diet: Healthy eating is the way to a healthy lifestyle. Giving your body the proper nutrients will help in treating the TMJ disorder. Magnesium rich foods such as legumes and beans are essential for neurotransmission and muscle relaxation. Dairy products rich in calcium help in strengthening the jaw bones. Vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, B 12, C, D and folic acid found in foods like fish liver, dried peas, oysters, nuts, egg yolk, spinach, tuna and cauliflower help in the generation and growth of blood cells, especially red blood cells which are essential for proper bone growth and infection resistance.
Relaxation exercises: The importance of an exercise routine can never be emphasized enough. It is important to move your body parts from time to time in order to keep your body in sound shape. Certain soft movement exercises help to relax the muscles around your jaw, face and neck, thereby curing TMJ disorder by stretching and strengthening body muscles and relieving myofascial pain. Along with various head, neck and arm exercises, yoga can prove to be a powerful natural cure for TMJ disorder. It is essential to follow the advice of a trainer and/or medical practitioner before performing such exercises, as wrong methods may cause your situation to deteriorate.
Other natural cures for TMJ disorder would include meditation, hypnotherapy and reiki treatments. It is important to work on one's bad habits, such as wrong body postures, to ensure the prevention of TMJ disorder. However, for long lasting relief it is essential to try a holistic treatment for your condition. A Holistic treatment aims to restore your body to a state of well being by treating the root cause of the condition. Thus, combining conventional forms of medication along with alternative treatments would ensure not only a complete cure for TMJ disorder but also prevent its occurrence in the future.
This article is based on the book, "TMJ No More" by Sandra Carter. Sandra is an author, researcher, nutritionist and health consultant who dedicated her life to creating the ultimate TMJ disorders solution guaranteed to permanently reverse the root cause of TMJ and dramatically improve the overall quality of your life, without the use prescription medication and without any surgical procedures. Learn more by visiting her website
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