TMJ is My Normal
Tight achy jaw, clenched teeth, and an occasional locked jaw are all things I once considered to be a normal part of life.
(PRWEB) November 26, 2004 -- Tight achy jaw, clenched teeth, and an
occasional locked jaw are all things I once considered to be a normal part of
life. It never occurred to me these symptoms were out of the ordinary and
correctable - just as contact lenses had corrected my vision - to me the
symptoms of TMJ I grew up with did not seem to affect the quality of my life and
so I never sought treatment.
Amazingly, one day just a short time ago I
noticed something about me which seemed different – my jaw didn’t ache or feel
tight anymore – this wasn’t normal! For me a lifestyle change had removed a lot
of tension, stress, and anxiety from my life; it was only after I no longer
experienced discomfort in my jaw that I realized I had been living with a
medical condition know as TMJ.
What is TMJ?
TMJ or “Temporomandibular
Joint Syndrome,” is a collection of symptoms affecting the temporomandibular
joint (the point where the jaw opens and closes) and nerves related to chronic
facial discomfort. There is no one cause of this condition, however, the three
leading contributing factors are believed to be improper jaw alignment or
improper “bite”, severe stress, and sleep disorders.
Improper “bite” +
Stress = TMJ and loss of sleep for many individuals.
National Institutes
of Health reports “Anxiety and stress are a wide spread phenomena often
amplifying the effects of medical illness.” Anxiety is an emotion often
accompanied by various physical symptoms such as twitching or trembling, muscle
tension, headaches, sweating, dry mouth, or difficulty swallowing; anxiety and
stress significantly contributes to Temporomandibula Joint Syndrome.
When
someone with the underlying condition of an improper “bite” consciously or
unconsciously holds anxiety and stress in jaw muscles, those jaw muscles become
overly tense and literally singe down the temporomandibular joint making it
difficult to comfortably open and close the mouth.
Top 5 Symptoms of
TMJ
1. Difficulty opening and closing mouth.
2. Aching or tired feeling in
jaw muscles.
3. Clicking or grinding noise while opening and closing
mouth.
4. Stiff jaw when eating, talking, or yawning.
5. "Locking" of jaw
in an open or closed position.
Top 5 Treatments for TMJ
1. Apply moist
heat
2. Massage Therapy
3. Stress management for the relaxation of the
jaw muscles.
4. Wearing a bite guard to eliminate harmful effects of
clenching and grinding teeth.
5. Orthodontics to gradually move jaw into
proper alignment.
In many cases TMJ can be successfully treated through
a combination of dental treatment and stress reduction, however, postponement of
treatment usually results in more damage to the joint, muscles, or teeth. Be
sure to discuss any questions you may have about TMJ treatment plans with your
dentist.
By Jeremy Moran
Jeremy Moran is a Certified Massage Therapist
at The Buckhead Center For Health in Atlanta, Georgia and author of
www.massageblogs.com.
Jeremy Moran, C.M.T.
The Buckhead Center For
Health
3098 Piedmont Road, N.E.
Suite 430
Atlanta, GA. 30305
(404)
237-7130
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/11/prweb181317.htm