Home Remedies for TMJ
If you experience frequent headaches, bothersome clicking and popping in the jaw, or pain in the face, neck, or shoulders, the problem may literally be all in your head. You may be suffering from a misalignment of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), the joint that allows your jaws to open, close, and move sideways.
The American Dental Association estimates
that as many as ten million Americans may have what’s known in dental circles as TMJ Disorder, or Dysfunction (TMJD), or TMJ Syndrome (TMJS). Unfortunately, it’s a condition that often goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed and untreated.
Five pairs of muscles and the temporomandibular joints that connect the upper and lower jaws allow you to open and close your mouth and control the forward, backward, and side-to-side movements of the lower jaw. Any problem that prevents this complex system of muscles, ligaments, bones, and joints from working together may result in the pain and other problems known as TMJD.
The jaw joints can become misaligned from a variety of causes — teeth that don’t fit together properly due to genetics, orthodontia, or grinding (bruxism); habits such as cradling the phone between the ear and shoulder; or injuries such as whiplash or a blow to the jaw. Stress plays a major role, too, and people often experience their first TMJ discomfort during stressful times.
Not everyone who has misaligned jaw joints experiences severe symptoms. In some cases, conservative home care can alleviate pain and discomfort. In others, professional help is important.
The next page is filled with home remedies for coping with your TMJ problem. If the conservative treatments described in this article don’t give you relief, seek help from a dentist, preferably one who is a TMJ specialist.
If you experience frequent headaches, bothersome clicking and popping in the jaw, or pain in the face, neck, or shoulders, the problem may literally be all in your head. You may be suffering from a misalignment of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), the joint that allows your jaws to open, close, and move sideways.
The American Dental Association estimates
that as many as ten million Americans may have what’s known in dental circles as TMJ Disorder, or Dysfunction (TMJD), or TMJ Syndrome (TMJS). Unfortunately, it’s a condition that often goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed and untreated.
Five pairs of muscles and the temporomandibular joints that connect the upper and lower jaws allow you to open and close your mouth and control the forward, backward, and side-to-side movements of the lower jaw. Any problem that prevents this complex system of muscles, ligaments, bones, and joints from working together may result in the pain and other problems known as TMJD.
The jaw joints can become misaligned from a variety of causes — teeth that don’t fit together properly due to genetics, orthodontia, or grinding (bruxism); habits such as cradling the phone between the ear and shoulder; or injuries such as whiplash or a blow to the jaw. Stress plays a major role, too, and people often experience their first TMJ discomfort during stressful times.
Not everyone who has misaligned jaw joints experiences severe symptoms. In some cases, conservative home care can alleviate pain and discomfort. In others, professional help is important.
Is It TMJ Disorder?One unfortunate aspect of TMJD is that it’s difficult to diagnose. If you answer yes to more than one or two of the following questions, you may indeed want to further pursue the possibility that TMJD is the cause of your symptoms by consulting a TMJ specialist (see “Find a TMJ Pro” on the next page):
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The next page is filled with home remedies for coping with your TMJ problem. If the conservative treatments described in this article don’t give you relief, seek help from a dentist, preferably one who is a TMJ specialist.
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