Stress and TMJ
Stress and TMJ
Stress and TMJ
Your Temporomandibular Joints (TMJ) on both sides of your lower jaw. These joints connect your lower jaw to your skull and allow you to move your lower jaw back and forth, up and down, and side to side. While very useful and necessary for chewing and speaking, the TMJ is a sensitive joint. Tense facial muscles or a misaligned bite can cause chronic pain in the TMJ area, which along with various other symptoms is known as Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD).
Neuromuscular dentistry is the specialized field of dentistry that focuses on diagnosing and treating the cause of TMD. Only a neuromuscular dentist will be able to properly treat the cause of the symptoms affecting your TMJ to permanently eliminate any pain and discomfort you are experiencing. Your neuromuscular dentist will also be able to recommend the best TMJ treatment option to match your particular set of TMJ symptoms.
TMJ Symptoms
Some of the symptoms that can be caused by your TMJ include:
Aching pain around your TMJ and your ears
Tension or migraine headaches
Back, neck, and shoulder pain
Popping or clicking of your jaw
Clenching or grinding teeth
Ringing in your ears
Difficulty opening and closing your mouth
Facial discomfort or tender muscles
Any of these TMJ symptoms can be made aggravated by talking, chewing, yawning, or even opening your mouth too wide. Many patients discover that they cannot open their mouths very wide due to pain. Patients who suffer from migraine like headaches may be unable to function because the pain is so great.
Stress is often a symptom that affects the TMJ and causes pain and discomfort in the face, neck, and upper back. There is a direct correlation between stress and TMJ symptoms.
People who have a great deal of stress due to a hectic family life or rigorous work schedule may unknowingly clench their jaws. Clenching of the jaws can fatigue facial muscles and lead to pain around the TMJ and jawbones. People with other symptoms affecting their TMJ may feel stressed that they are in pain all the time and begin to clench their jaws leading to more pain in their TMJ. Stress can be the beginning of an endless cycle involving the TMJ.
Treating Your Stress and TMJ
A knowledgeable neuromuscular dentist can help eliminate the pain and treat the cause of your TMJ symptoms. The treatments that are right for you depend on your specific needs. You may need one treatment or a combination of treatments to correct your TMJ.
There are many TMJ treatment options available. Most patients find relief with non-surgical treatments while a few patients require TMJ surgery. The treatments used for stress that affects the TMJ include:
Stress management therapy
Facial muscle relaxation exercises
Oral therapy appliances to relieve tension on the jaw muscles
Cold and hot compresses
A TENS unit
Correction of the alignment of your upper and lower jaws
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