TMJ There are things that you do like chewing, talking, laughing, and smiling and these can be painful if you have a temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). These movements can cause you pain. These simple movements can make you so uncomfortable that you are not able to perform them. Most signs of TMD can take months to go away, and they can be aggravated by certain behaviors and bad habits that can cause jaw and neck muscles to strain. Our dentists at Desertview Dental Care will guide you on things to do if you have jaw pain. Jaw Pain for TMJ/TMDThe muscles that help you move the mouth are connected to the TMJ where the skull and lower jawbone meet. Temporomandibular disorders may include conditions such as dislocation, arthritis, infection on TMJ, or injury on TMJ. This causes pain that locks into the jaw, such as headaches, ringing in ears, and even pain in the neck. Many people experience these TMD symptoms and they cause so much discomfort that it is hard to move the facial features and muscles. This discomfort is worsened by clenching, swallowing, chewing, and when one grinds the teeth. There are things that you can do to help you relieve pain if you have TMJ/TMD issues. Resting Jaw Position MaintenanceIf you want to manage the pain that is brought about by TMJ/TMD disorders, then you need to reduce the movements that you make with your jaw. This means that you need to reduce chewing, yawning, and singing. Since you have to eat, avoid eating hard foods that will require you to chew for longer and harder. Correct PostureYou will feel pain in the jaw if you sit in positions that hurt the jaw. If you are working, ensure that you get a chair that has back supports and also take breaks in between so that you improve your posture. When you are driving you will need to be as upright as possible so that you maintain the right posture. In times of leisure like reading or watching TV, you need to choose a space that allows you to sit in an upright posture with a pillow behind your back for support. The dentist will recommend that you practice raising the chest bone as you pull the shoulders back and ensure that you squeeze the shoulder blades so that the back muscles are straight. Get A Good Night’s SleepSleeping is important for several aspects of oral and general health. Sleep on the back using pillows so that they support the back with the neck is important. Avoid sleeping on the stomach and when you sleep on the side avoid placing your hand on the jaw. By observing the right sleeping position you will have reduced pain that comes with TMJ/TMD disorders. Our dental team will help you come up with a treatment plan if you are experiencing jaw pain. You can schedule an appointment by calling us at 623-278-9402. |
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