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