Many people suffer from a painful disorder known as TMJ or TMD. This is a disorder of in the temporomandibular joint which is located in the jaw. There is a TMJ on both sides of the face. The purpose of these joints is to attach the jaw to the bottom of the skull. The muscles that surround these joints, are responsible for opening and closing the mouth. Those who suffer from TDM have pain in the temporomandibular joint and the surrounding muscles. This pain causes a problem with opening the jaw as wide as it needs to as well as issues with chewing. This is very difficult for the person suffering as it often limits daily experiences such as talking and eating. While TDM is not a life-threatening disorder, it can cause many problems if left untreated. The good news is that there are many ways to treat this disorder. Information about the various treatments, their benefits, how to use them, and much more is what you will find here.
The first thing you should do if you have not yet been diagnosed, but feel that you may have a TMJ problem, is to see your primary care physician. You can not diagnose yourself with TMJ disorder, it requires a professional to properly diagnose. If you think that you might be suffering from TMD, make an appointment sooner rather than later. Knowing can take a great deal of the stress away, just knowing what you are dealing with and how to handle it. Once you are at your appointment and it seems that TDM or other TMJ issue is at the heart of your problems, do not hesitate to ask your doctor, how do you treat TMJ?
Depending on the exact form of TMD you have and the severity, there are several different treatment options. For mild to low-end moderate cases, stress reduction, lifestyle changes, and relaxation techniques are often all that is needed. Stress will make TDM exponentially worse, so the first thing to do is make every effort to reduce the stress in your life. Obviously, this is not always as easy as it sounds. Work is often a major contributing factor to stress levels, but keeping your job is incredibly important. Raising children can be incredibly stressful, but you have to care for your kids. Sometimes, having a significant other brings with it a great deal of stress, but that does not necessarily mean you wish to break ties with them. Basically, life is stressful; however, it is vital to find ways to reduce stress in your life. There are several ways to do this. For starters, if you have any sick days or vacation days, consider taking one or two to rest up and rejuvenate. Of course, this is a short-term solution which means you still need to find a long-term solution. One option is to change your schedule if at all possible. If that is not possible, try rearranging other aspects of your life to better accommodate your schedule. Another option is to look for another job that better suits your needs. As for family and children, choose a day once per month and hire a babysitter for as much of the day as possible. Take the day to go out and enjoy yourself or stay in and relax. Go get a massage or take a long hot bubble bath. Whatever it takes to relax you.
Whether or not you are able to reduce your stress levels, there are other ways to provide a bit more relaxation in your life. One of these methods is to meditate. Many people avoid meditation because they fear the word itself and what it may mean. They see meditation as a “new age” activity or even a pagan one because they do not truly understand what it really is. Meditation can mean different things to different people, but underneath it all, it is a way to relax your mind and your body. Meditation is incredibly simple to do, to begin all you need is a quiet place to sit. You can sit in your favorite chair or on the floor. You can lay in your bed or sit on a bench in the park. In essences, you can be anywhere you are comfortable. Once you are comfortable in your quiet place, close your eyes. Then, picture a place that you feel is perfect, it can be a real or imagined place. Picture the way it looks, the way it smells, the surrounding air on your face. Imagine the taste in the air. This will serve as your “happy place”. This is where your mind can go to escape the harsh realities of the world. Once you have this place firmly in mind, begin deep breathing. Slowly breathe in through your nose while silently counting to seven. Then, hold that breath while counting to four and then slowly breathe out through your mouth while counting to seven. After the first few breaths, relax a specific set of muscles every time your breath out. Start with your neck muscles and then work downward alternating side of your body until you reach your toes. After all of this, begin to breathe more normally, keeping each breath slow and even. Stay this way as long as you need to. That is all there is to meditation.
Other lifestyle changes often include eating only soft foods, avoiding excessive jaw movements, and avoiding wide yawns. This provides a better, more conducive environment for your jaw joints and muscles.
If stress reduction and lifestyle changes are not enough, there are many other options. This most often includes a medication regime. There are several different types of medicine that help with TMD This includes muscle relaxers, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, sedatives, and analgesics. Your physician may prescribe any one or any combination of these depending on your exact situation. Beyond medication, you may also be prescribed a device such as prosthodontics, a mouth guard, or a splint. Physical therapy is also a popular treatment for moderate to low-end severe cases. Stretching, acupuncture, and biofeedback treatments may also be recommended. Very severe cases may require surgical procedures to correct. After surgery, you will likely still require certain medications and physical therapy.…