Help for Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ) Pain!

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, commonly called TMJ, affects 28% of adults in the United States. Common symptoms of TMJ include:

• tension and pain in the face and jaw
• difficulty turning the head
• neck pain and tension
• toothaches
• problems reading or working on a computer
• headaches
• problems yawning, chewing, or opening your mouth
• ear pain
• jaw popping and cracking
• pain and stiffness in your mid-back

Causes and Treatment of TMJ

There are several possible causes of TMJ, with the most common being misaligned teeth and teeth clenching. While these two causes can usually be corrected, others such as trauma and degenerative disease may not be correctable.

While there are many conventional treatments for the pain caused by TMJ, there are also complementary and alternative treatments that do not have as many side effects.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy for TMJ pain includes doing exercises that help relax face and neck muscles, especially jaw muscles. You will be guided through a routine of exercises such as jaw stretches, which include moving your jaw back and forth, from side to side and up and down in sets repeated several times daily.

Chinese Medicine for TMJ

In traditional Chinese medicine, the jaw is connected to the stomach meridians. Acupuncture has been proven effective in relieving TMJ pain. Patients are often taught how to apply acupressure and self-massage techniques for pain relief.

Nutrition and Supplements

When TMJ pain strikes, eat only soft foods that do not require much chewing. Avoid inflammatory foods such as caffeine and saturated fats.

TMJ is a common ailment with many treatment methods. Natural treatment methods include physical therapy, acupuncture and acupressure. Certain nutritional supplements — such as B vitamins as well as vitamins C and E — may also help relieve TMJ pain.

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References

TMJ Pain and Physical Therapy; University of Georgia Health Center; accessed November 11, 2014

Treat TMJ With Oriental Medicine; Pacific College of Oriental Medicine; accessed November 11, 2014

Steven D. Ehrlich, NMD; Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction; University of Maryland Medical Center; accessed November 11, 2014