Tight achy jaw, clenched teeth, and an occasional locked jaw are all things I once considered to be a normal part of life. It never occurred to me these symptoms were out of the ordinary and correctable - just as contact lenses had corrected my vision - to me the symptoms of TMJ I grew up with did not seem to affect the quality of my life and so I never sought treatment.
Amazingly, one day just a short time ago I noticed something about me which seemed different – my jaw didn’t ache or feel tight anymore – this wasn’t normal! For me a lifestyle change had removed a lot of tension, stress, and anxiety from my life; it was only after I no longer experienced discomfort in my jaw that I realized I had been living with a medical condition know as TMJ.
What is TMJ?
TMJ or “Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome,” is a collection of symptoms affecting the temporomandibular joint (the point where the jaw opens and closes) and nerves related to chronic facial discomfort. There is no one cause of this condition, however, the three leading contributing factors are believed to be improper jaw alignment or improper “bite”, severe stress, and sleep disorders.
Improper “bite” + Stress = TMJ and loss of sleep for many individuals.
National Institutes of Health reports “Anxiety and stress are a wide spread phenomena often amplifying the effects of medical illness.” Anxiety is an emotion often accompanied by various physical symptoms such as twitching or trembling, muscle tension, headaches, sweating, dry mouth, or difficulty swallowing; anxiety and stress significantly contributes to Temporomandibula Joint Syndrome.
When someone with the underlying condition of an improper “bite” consciously or unconsciously holds anxiety and stress in jaw muscles, those jaw muscles become overly tense and literally singe down the temporomandibular joint making it difficult to comfortably open and close the mouth.
Top 5 Symptoms of TMJ
1. Difficulty opening and closing mouth.
2. Aching or tired feeling in jaw muscles.
3. Clicking or grinding noise while opening and closing mouth.
4. Stiff jaw when eating, talking, or yawning.
5. "Locking" of jaw in an open or closed position.
Top 5 Treatments for TMJ
1. Apply moist heat
2. Massage Therapy
3. Stress management for the relaxation of the jaw muscles.
4. Wearing a bite guard to eliminate harmful effects of clenching and grinding teeth.
5. Orthodontics to gradually move jaw into proper alignment.
In many cases TMJ can be successfully treated through a combination of dental treatment and stress reduction, however, postponement of treatment usually results in more damage to the joint, muscles, or teeth. Be sure to discuss any questions you may have about TMJ treatment plans with your dentist.
By Jeremy Moran
Jeremy Moran is a Certified Massage Therapist at The Buckhead Center For Health in Atlanta, Georgia and author of www.massageblogs.com.
Jeremy Moran, C.M.T.
The Buckhead Center For Health
3098 Piedmont Road, N.E.
Suite 430
Atlanta, GA. 30305
(404) 237-7130