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