When the chewing muscles and jaw joints do not work together in harmony, you may be experiencing Temporomandibular Disorder – or better known as TMJ.
According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, some estimates suggest that TMJ disorder affects over 10 million Americans and the conditions appear to be more common in women than men.
If you are experiencing chronic headaches, migraines, neck and shoulder stiffness and earaches, these conditions may be directly related to your bite – or the misalignment of your jaw.
The misalignment of the jaw can cause many problems such as:
- Clicking or popping of the jaw joints
- Pain in or around the jaw joints
- Locking or limited opening of your mouth
However, while there is no substitute for getting the proper treatment plan to address these conditions, there are simple short-term tips that can be beneficial to managing the pain on a day-to-day basis such as:
- Eating soft foods and avoid chewing gum or hard ice
- Apply ice packs and avoid extreme jaw movements
- Short term use of over-the-counter or prescription pain medicines will provide some relief
- Learning techniques to reduce stress may also provide relief
In the end, stabilizing your bite so that your teeth, muscles and joints all work in harmony is the ultimate solution to provide long-term pain relief.
