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| How Gum Chewing Can Lead to TMJ Pain |
Posted on 3/25/2020 by Ankur Johri |
When people suffer from various dental or oral conditions, even the simplest of activities such as gum chewing can cause severe or chronic pain and possibly even damage. This is oftentimes the case with people who struggle with TMJ. Aggressive ChewingIt is estimated that the average person chews 300 pieces of gum per year! That is a staggering amount, nearly one and three-quarter trillion pieces alone were chewed last year. And for people who have issues with TMJ, even one piece could have lasting negative effects for weeks. One of the things about gum chewing is the fact that it is a passive action that we don't pay much attention to. And as the gum loses its flavor or we find ourselves in a tense or high anxiety situation such as attending a meeting at work or watching an especially dramatic movie or TV show, we could end up chomping away without even realizing it. Repetitious Movement Even when we aren't particularly stressed, just the continuous repetitious movement of chewing, especially on one side, can lead to an onslaught of TMJ symptoms. If it is done regularly or for an extended period of time, it could ultimately lead to the jaw actually slipping out of alignment and causing a number of related problems. For those who simply must chew gum in place of smoking, eating, or during athletic events or other such things, remembering to switch sides regularly and popping in a fresh piece once the one you have is starting to lose flavor can go a long way in reducing TMJ effects. The main thing to realize it that if something as simple as chewing gum is causing you any type of pain, the best thing that you can do is to stop by our offices and let us see what we can do to treat or resolve the problem in a more permanent fashion....
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| Do TMJ Disorders Impact Your Memory? |
Posted on 3/15/2020 by Ankur Johri |
When people think about the effects that oral problems or specific dental conditions have on them, they usually tend to focus on the physical aspects such as difficulty chewing and eating, painful sensations while drinking or even just breathing, and the domino effects it can have in the form of contributing to neck pain or headaches. But another complication of these issues, particularly TMJ, is the fact that it can also greatly impact things like memory and other brain functions as well. Chronic Pain Has Numerous Neurological EffectsWhen someone is in continual severe pain it can affect every other system of the body after a certain amount of time. One of the earliest victims of this process is the brain, as it is the one that constantly has to dedicate energy to the nerves and sensor warnings it has to keep sending the body, as well as trying to repair the problem. Numerous studies have shown this has a direct effect on the ability to concentrate and convert experiences to memory. TMJ Sufferers Use Different Parts of Their Brains to Accomplish TasksSomething else these studies uncovered was the fact that people who suffer from TMJ tend to use different areas of their brains to perform tasks and functions that people without this condition use. They were also found to score lower on cognitive tests, have difficulty concentrating for extended periods, and were more likely to struggle with a number of mental or emotional issues such as anxiety and depression. The fact is that TMJ has a much greater impact on a person's life than just a little tooth or jaw pain. It can have serious repercussions when left untreated, including the development of mental and emotional difficulties. To learn more about how to better deal with this condition, get in touch with our offices as soon as you can....
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| Ways of Treating TMJ Pain Through Stress Reduction |
Posted on 2/29/2020 by Ankur Johri |
Temporomandibular joint disorders, known as TMD orTMJ disorder, is a condition that comes about when the joints that connect your jaws and the skull don't work properly. It is also commonly referred to as TMJ. People who suffer from TMJ sometimes experience unbearable pain. TMJ is usually caused by accidents and injuries to the jaws, muscle spasms in the jaw, neck or head, and wearing down of the teeth resulting in a change in the tooth structure. Wearing down of the teeth is mostly caused by too much grinding of the teeth (known as bruxism) which has been linked to stress and anxiety. Managing your stress levels could, therefore, help in reducing the pain from TMJ. How to Treat TMJ Pain Through Stress Reduction Stress and anxiety can make you grind your teeth or clench your jaws too tightly and worsen the pain caused by TMJ. Reducing your stress levels could help alleviate the pain and speed up the recovery process for TMJ. Here are stress reduction techniques that could help treat the pain caused by TMJ. Massages Massages are known to help in relaxing the muscles and ease tension off the body. If you are feeling stressed, a massage session could help you to relax. Jaw massage can also help in relieving the tension of the jaws and alleviate TMJ pain. Anxiety Medication If you suffer from chronic anxiety and depression, then your doctor may recommend medication to help you stay relaxed and calm. This can reduce instances when you need to grind your teeth. If you need treatment for bruxism, then you can get in touch with our office. It is not advisable to use home remedies or over-the-counter treatment for chronic anxiety and depression. Guidance and Counselling Sometimes, guidance and counseling sessions can help you to manage your stress levels. Such sessions can also help you to understand how you are making the pain worse and what you need to do to stop. Sometimes, you may also need a change in lifestyle to not only manage your stress levels but also to speed up the recovery process for TMJ. If you have tried these solutions and still have problems with your jaw, we do offer additional treatments that can help, such asbotox treatment. If you need recommendations on healthy lifestyle habits that will also improve your oral health, get in touch with our office today....
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