TMJ Pain

Tmj pain may appear under the condition of some disorders in the area of temporomandibular joint. A variety of problems of the jaw which are accompanied by pain are called tmj disorders. This condition may lead to the tmj ear pain, problems with biting, stiffness and headaches as muscles and joints are coworkers in the individual’s organism.

It is possible to distinguish several conditions that may lead to the tmj disorders and as a result to the tmj pain. First of all such a habit as gum chewing is worth of mentioning. This habit is common for quite a great amount of people in different countries. Now you know what it may cause and will think twice before next gum chewing. The same it is possible to say about fingernail biting. So, it is not only not aesthetically pleasing, but may lead to such a sad consequences as tmj pain. Temporomandibular joint disorders may be caused also by teeth grinding and teeth clenching. If one morning you wake up and experience pain in the jaw or ear it may mean that teeth grinding caused tmj jaw pain. Of course different injuries of the jaw may lead to the tmj pain. During the consultation with your dentist you may get to know that tmj pain may also be caused by dental problems such as malocclusion. The daily activity such as long-term and frequent talks on the phone may lead to tmj disorders. That is why if you feel jaw or ear pain it is better not to hold the phone between head and shoulder but use some additional facilities, for example earphones or hands-free which uses Bluetooth. In addition you behavior during the stress situations may lead to temporomandibular joint disorders. When you are angry or nervous try not to clench your teeth. Sometimes you may release the negative energy in such a harmful way unconsciously, that is why you have to be very attentive to your teeth in such situations.

If you are searching for tmj pain relief you may visit your doctor and consult with him. The modern medicine may offer sufferers several methods of treatment which has tmj relief as a goal. Among them it is possible to list jaw rest; heat and ice therapy; anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen or some steroids; muscle relaxants also may be recommended; physical therapy; stress management; occlusal therapy; correction of bite abnormalities and surgery. The last item is used only in those cases when other remedies do not help. Tmj pain relief may be also associated with the home remedies. Small changes in your daily nutrition may help you in reducing problems with the temporomandibular joint. First of all if you want to receive tmj pain relief you should have a strong will to eliminate some food products from your diet. To feel yourself better you should avoid coffee, tea, different energy drinks and even simple soda. It is important to know that the low level of magnesium in the person’s organism is able to lead to tmj disorders and all connected symptoms and complications. It is possible to increase magnesium level with the help of natural products. You only need to add to your daily diet such products as eggs, cottage cheese, legumes, tofu, spinach, wheat flour, pumpkin seeds and oat bran muffins. These food products are quite tasty and you will not feel disgust while eating them. And it is very easy, safe and healthy way to increase the level of magnesium in the organism. Combining healthy diet with exercising will help you to reduce tmj pain.

TMJ Surgery

Temporomandibular joint disorder is a very common condition, the treatment of which may consists of a variety of different remedies, but in severe cases, seeing a TMJ specialist and having a TMJ surgery may be needed.
The temporomandibular joint disorder combines such symptoms as headaches, facial pain, jaw pain, sore, chipped, or worn teeth, clicking, or pooping in the jaw, and limited jaw movement. Typically, people who suffer from the disorder complain about chronic pain in the jaw, teeth, face, head, neck, shoulders, and back.
Most of the people have at least some of the TMJ symptoms and suffer from the disorder at least to some degree. Women tend to experience more pain from TMJ while men have more teeth, gums, bones, and joints damage when suffering from TMJ. Children are the most sensitive to the disorder, and may show signs of TMJ, such as ear infection, leaning their head on the arm, lip, check, or finger biting, sucking, or chewing, headaches, snoring, grinding of the teeth at night time. Temporomandibular joint disorder means that the small joints in the front of the ears that are the most complicated joints in the whole body attack the lower jaw of the skull. Because the face area where the TMJ is located is a very complex network of bones, muscles, and nerves, the condition may affect very different areas of the body, and the discomfort may vary from migraine-like headaches or pain in the neck or in the shoulders to numbness or tingling in the arms. Normally TMJ is the result of malocclusion, the condition that may be caused by “bad bite”, accidents, or trauma. If you have malocclusion it means that your upper and lower teeth do not close correctly, or in other words they are misaligned. You may suffer from either an under bite or over bites.
When the malocclusion evolves, the teeth are not able to properly support the muscles in chewing and swallowing. As a result, the muscles are strained and this causes pain throughout your body.
In order to treat the disorder, the TMJ dentist first evaluates the most comfortable position of your jaw to see the prospect of normal positioning, and then takes measures needed to achieve that positioning. Once the bite is realigned and the jaw is back in place, that pain caused by the condition goes away. In the most severe cases, such treatment as TMJ surgery is required. There are different options within the range of surgery available, but they should only be considered if no other remedy appears to be helpful.

You TMJ doctor may recommend such kinds of TMJ surgery as:

1.  Arthrocentesis. This procedure is the simplest one, and it involves irrigation of the TMJ to flush the joint out. Arthrocentersis is usually suggested before the major surgery. 
2.  Disk Repositioning. This procedure is considered when the protective cartilage disk is not in the proper place and needs to be repositioned. 
3.  Discectomy. This procedure is performed when the padding and protection providing disk is extremely damaged, as a result of the procedure it is being removed along with the surrounding tissue. 
4.  Articular eminence recontouring. This procedure requires shortening and smoothing of the socket-like portion of the TMJ if needed, to relieve the stress and make motion easier. 
5.  TMJ Replacement required the removal of the TMJ and further replacement.

TMJ causes

A wide number of TMJ causes may be responsible for the development of the Temporomandibular joint disorder. TMJ connects the lower jaw to the skull in the front of the ear. Disorders in this area may cause pain in the head and the neck, facial pain, ear pain, difficulty opening the jaw, difficulty biting, clicking and popping of the jaw.

The disorder may be very painful because the TMJ is made of muscles, blood vessels, nerves, and bones. The pain often spreads out side of the head area and may affect back, neck, and arms. The following number of factors is what causes TMJ: disease, wear and tear as a result of aging, and habits.
Trauma is the most typical factor responsible for the condition. There are two kinds of trauma possible: micro- and macro trauma. Micro trauma is internal, for example teeth grinding, or bruxism and clenching, or jaw tightening. The lasting pressure on the temporomandibular joint may change the way the teeth are aligned. Because muscles are involved in the process, there may be inflammation of the membranes around the joint. It is common for people who have TMJ disorder to be diagnosed with grinding and clenching while suffering from pain in the TMJ or facial pain.
The other kind of the trauma, the macro trauma may be a result of the punch to the jaw, impact or an accident, especially when the jawbone is broken, causes for the TMJ to dislocate, or for the cartilage disc of the joint to get damaged.
Causes of TMJ also include bruxism, the condition in which teeth grinding habit results in the spasm of the muscle and causes the inflammatory reaction and the initial pain. TMJ causes may be the following: changes in the typical stimuli of height of the teeth, teeth misalignment, or changes in the chewing muscles.
Grinding is another important factor among TMJ causes. Chewing gum, pen, or pencil, or fingernails causes the constant pounding pressure on the jaw and therefore causes the pain. The tension in the jaw leads to the clenched jaw.
Undergoing arthritic changes in the jaw joint, or osteoarthritis is another identified cause for TMJ. Sometimes degeneration of the breakdown of the joint may be responsible for arthritis in the jaw, or it may also be aging. The slow progressive loss of cartilage disc and new bone formation at the top of the joint may be caused by the degenerative joint disease. A number of mechanical and biological factors may bring to cartilage disc destruction. Such factors as repetitive micro and macro traumas, normal aging, and immunologic and inflammatory diseases can considerable contribute to the process of rapid development of the disorder.
Rheumatoid arthritis is another common factor among the TMJ causes. Most commonly in children, but in adults as well, rheumatoid arthritis is responsible for inflammation process in joints and may trigger TMJ condition. When the diseases progress it typically destructs the cartilage disc and the erode bone, deforming joint in the end. Rheumatoid arthritis falls into the autoimmune disease category. This condition may cause further diseases in different organs and involves constant joint inflammation. In children especially, it is known to affect the TMJ