Temporomandibular joint disorder, known as TMJ, can affect all aspects of your life. The simple activities of laughing, talking, smiling, and chewing can be very painful. If you have pain in your jaw during these activities, it's best to get it checked out as soon as possible. The sooner you get it checked out, the sooner you can get a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.
What is TMJ?
When you move your mouth, you're moving a series of muscles and ligaments. These are all connected to your temporomandibular joint. This is where the lower jaw bone meets your skull. There are a variety of different disorders that can affect this area. When these disorders develop, they can lead to painful locking and clicking in your jaw. It can also cause other issues like neck pain, tinnitus, and even headaches. When you experience these conditions on a frequent basis, you may have TMJ.
What Causes TMJ?
Disorders in this location of the body can be due to several different conditions. Some of the most common include dislocation, infection, injury, and even arthritis. In some cases, TMJ may only be short-lived if you can treat the infection. In some cases, TMJ can be a chronic condition.
How to Best Relieve TMJ Pain?
There are a variety of different methods that you can use to help relieve some of the pain that you feel from TMJ. One of the simplest to remember is to rest your jaw. You want to limit the amount of time that you spend chewing, yelling, singing, or even yawning. You want to work to keep those muscles as relaxed as possible.
Your posture can play a big role in how your body sits while it's at rest. If you're in a less-than-ideal position for long periods of time, it could lead to more pain in your jaw. Make sure that when you're working out of a chair, you use back support and take frequent breaks. If your posture is not ideal, you should work with a physical therapist. They can help you bring your body into a neutral posture.
Many people don't realize that the stress they feel will have a large impact on the pain that they get from their jaw. When you're under a high amount of stress, your body will clench your jaw. This can lead to overworking and flaring up of those unwanted symptoms. You can do yourself a world of favor by doing other activities to help reduce stress in your life. This includes yoga, meditation, gardening, and any activity that calms and relaxes you.
Contact Us Today
If you're experiencing TMJ pain in your jaw, then it's time to contact us today. Let our helpful dental team help you with your TMJ jaw pain so that you can get back to enjoying all that life has to offer.
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