TMJ
Serving the Greater San Bernardino County Area including Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, Fontana, Upland, CA
The temporomandibular joint, commonly referred to as TMJ, is the joint on each side of your face responsible for connecting your jaw to your skull. This joint plays a crucial role in helping you eat, speak, and move your jaw up and down and side to side.
A TMJ is something we’re all born with. Meanwhile, TMJ disorder or TMD is the condition concerning the TMJ, often erroneously referred to as TMJ. While TMJ disorder can be painful and quietly disruptive to daily life, Recovery Lab has all-natural solutions to help you manage its symptoms.
TMJ
- What Causes TMJ Disorder?
TMJ disorder can be triggered by a variety of different factors or habits. A tight jaw from emotional stress, teeth grinding, a previous jaw injury, arthritis, a bite misalignment, or poor posture can lead to, or worsen, TMJ disorder.
Overusing the jaw can also contribute to TMJ disorder. Habits like nail biting or excessive gum chewing, for instance, may be to blame.
- What are the Symptoms of TMJ Disorder?
Those diagnosed with TMJ disorder often experience jaw soreness, trouble opening or closing their jaw, and/or popping or grinding noises from their jaw.
Outside of jaw-related symptoms, sufferers might notice general facial soreness, pain extending to their ears, an increase in headaches, teeth wear, or a full sensation or ringing in their ears.
- How Can I Relieve TMJ Symptoms?
Giving your jaw a break is one of the best things you can do when experiencing TMJ disorder. Refraining from clenching your jaw, maintaining proper neck and head posture, and avoiding chewing gum or biting inanimate objects are recommended. The latter can help relieve symptoms gradually and/or stop symptoms from progressing.
Other TMJ symptoms management recommendations include:
- Using a warm compress on your jaw multiple times a day to relax tension
- Gently massaging the face/jaw area daily
- Engaging in gentle jaw exercises
- Properly managing stress and being mindful of how stress is contributing to your posture and tension
- Temporarily avoiding eating hard or chewy foods, like tough meat, raw vegetables, bagels, or dried fruit
- Wearing a night guard if TMJ disorder is a result of teeth grinding or clenching when sleeping
- What Makes TMJ Disorder Worse?
TMJ disorder can get worse when continuing bad habits or mindless habits like subtle jaw clenching. Symptoms can also progress with continual jaw overuse, physical or mental stress, or engaging in aggressive forms of treatment such as deep massage on the area or strenuous jaw exercises.
All in all, both old patterns and new changes can worsen TMJ disorder or even cause it to progress longer than it normally would. Being mindful of negative habits and engaging in proper self-care during the recovery period are recommended.
- Can Wellness Services Help with TMJ Symptoms?
Yes, while eradicating bad jaw-related habits and giving your jaw plenty of rest are crucial, wellness services at Recovery Lab can help with TMJ symptoms and potentially speed up healing.
If your TMJ symptoms are primarily triggered by stress and muscle tension, we suggest trying percussion therapy on the neck or shoulder area, mobility stretching on the upper body, or cupping therapy on the upper back. To combat inflammation, consider red light therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or localized cryotherapy.
Have questions about how our wellness services may be able to help? Contact our wellness facility today.
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