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TMJ Disorders

TMJ, or temporomandibular joints, are the a locked jaw.
joints of the jaw, connecting the More often than not, TMJ disorders
mandible, or lower jaw bone, to the involve mild symptoms, symptoms that go
skull. They are essential joints: we use away on their own. They may come back
them for common activities like speaking from time to time, but they usually don't
and eating. Because of their frequent worsen. However, some people with TMJ
use, when these joints are afflicted by a disorders do possess chronic symptoms,
disorder, the outcome can be symptoms that don't subside. Up to 12
debilitating. This is due, in part, percent of people with TMJ disorders have
because TMJ disorders can be medically these chronic symptoms, ultimately having
elusive, with complexities that are not chronic pain that impacts their ability
quite completely understood. Yet, TMJ to eat, talk, yawn, swallow, and lead a
disorders are more bothersome because of normal life. Those with chronic symptoms
the fact that the disorders attack joints are often affected on both a physical and
that people can't stay off of and let emotional level.
heal; they attack joints people can't
help but rely on. Treatment
Treatment of TMJ disorders purposes to
The Causes relieve jaw pain and restore full
TMJ disorders can be caused by one function and movement. A variety of
single factor, but they are more commonly treatments have proven to fulfill this
caused by multiple factors. One of the purpose and, often, at-home treatment is
main causes of TMJ disorders is simply all the treatment a TMJ disorder sufferer
muscle tension. Tightening of the jaw, needs to seek. This can include wearing
head, neck and face muscles can lead to splints or bite plates for a set period
jaw pain, and a jaw that is stiff and of time. These devices help reduce
unyielding. This tension may be caused by grinding of teeth and the clenching of
inner stress and anxiety or activities facial muscles, which ultimately relieves
that cause stress on the jaw such as tension. Though effective, splints and
teeth grinding and gum chewing. A TMJ bite plates should not be used for a
disorder may also be a response to lengthy amount of time because they can
misalignment of the jaw joint, structural potentially permanently change the
problems within the jaw joint, or an position of the jaw and teeth.
injury a jaw may sustain through sports
or accidents. For those who suffer from chronic TMJ
disorders, relief may be found with
While causes of a TMJ disorder may muscle relaxation practices, such as
develop over time, some people may be biofeedback (a relaxation technique where
predisposed to them in earlier years. For people learn to control a body function)
instance, some people may have been born and cognitive-behavioral therapy (a form
with structural problems or other birth of therapy that modifies an individual's
defects that affect the alignment of the behavior patterns).
jaw. Some people may have scar tissue or People may also find relief at their
bone damage from a jaw injury years dentist office, with some dentists
earlier. Some people may have jaw specializing in TMJ disorders. These
displacement caused by a tumor or a dentists usually start by performing a
wrongly positioned disc. In other series of X-rays and prescribing a
instances, a TMJ disorder may be a result specialized mouth guard. They may also
of inflammation caused by degenerative recommend only eating soft foods for a
diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis. set amount of time or teach a series of
exercises aimed at relieving jaw tension
Risk Factors and pain. If these treatment options
While not all risk factors for TMJ don't take, microsurgery may be
disorders have been uncovered, most recommended.
people afflicted with a TMJ disorder do
possess commonalities among their But invasive procedures, such as
lifestyles. Risk factors include stress surgery, are usually only reserved for
and anxiety that causes muscle tension, extreme instances: it is recommended that
habits that cause jaw strain such as nail people try less extreme measures before
biting, eating hard candy, and sleeping choosing more permanent ones. More often
on one side of your mouth, an injury to than not, surgical procedures are
the jaw or the head, and overstretching reserved for TMJ disorders caused by
the jaw during dental or medical surgery. diseases, irreversible injuries, or TMJ
Though age and sex aren't huge risk disorders that were not compliant to any
factors, TMJ disorders do tend to affect other form of treatment.
people between the ages of 20 and 50.
While some studies have determined that Overall, most sufferers of TMJ disorders
men and women are affected at an equal are sufferers of stress, a factor known
rate, a few studies tend to list women of to play a role in all kinds of diseases.
childbearing age as the most risky Because of this, adopting a lifestyle
demographic. that fights stress rather than
facilitates it may be the best way to
Symptoms stop TMJ disorders in their tracks.
The symptoms of TMJ disorders aren't
necessarily limited to the jaw. They can About Us: The Center for Osteopathic
affect muscles in the face, shoulder, Medicine in Boulder, Colorado believes in
neck and head. The most common symptoms The Osteopathic Difference. In a medical
are joint and muscle pain, noise when the industry focused on treating symptoms,
jaw opens and closes, inability to fully The Center is more focused on finding the
open the mouth or pain when doing so, and cause of these symptoms.




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