An estimated 10 million Americans suffer from temporary mandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome, a condition in which the temporary mandibular joint does not function properly. This is the joint that connects the temporal bone (the bone that forms the sides of the skull) with the mandible (the jaw bone). This painful affliction produces pain in the muscles and joints of the jaw that sometimes radiates to the face, neck, and shoulder. There may also be difficulty opening the mouth all the way, and clicking, grinding, and popping noises may occur during chewing and movement of the joint. Headaches, toothaches, dizziness, feelings of pain and pressure behind the eyes, pain and ringing in the ears, and difficulty opening and closing the jaw normally are other possible symptoms.
The jaw joint is embedded in an intricate web of nerves and muscle. The force of chewing (something we do a lot of) and of clenching or gritting the teeth creates enormous tension and pressure in that region of the face. The cartilage disk that cushions the joint may become displaced or wear out. This causes the bones of the temporomandibular joint to rub against one another, rather than gliding smoothly past each other. In some instances, a misalignment of the jaw and teeth prevents smooth operation of the joint.
The most common underlying causes of TMJ are stress and a poor bite, together with clenching and grinding of the teeth (bruxism), especially at night. TMJ can also be caused by bad posture, habits such as cradling the telephone between the shoulder and jaw, repeated or hard blows to the jaw or chin, or whiplash. Poor dental work and orthodontia may aggravate the problem, as can habits such as gum chewing, thumb-sucking, and chewing exclusively on one side of the mouth. A common contributing factor is hypoglycemia; people tend to clench and grind their teeth more when their blood sugar is low.
To diagnose TMJ, a physician may use x-rays and a technique called arthrography, in which an opaque dye is injected into the joint and then viewed with fluoroscopy.
A correct diet and the proper supplements, possibly in conjunction with other treatment, are valuable for TMJ and often solve the problem.
Place your little fingers in your ears so that hearing is obstructed. Then slowly and steadily open and close your jaw. If at any point you hear a clicking, popping, and/or grilling noise, the jaw joints may be out of alignment, and examination by a professional experienced in diagnosing and treating TMJ is advisable.
Blue violet, catnip, chamomile, hops, lobelia, skullcap, kava, thyme, red raspberry, passionflower, valerian root, and wild lettuce have calming and anti-stress properties.
Caution: Do not use chamomile regularly, as ragweed allergy may result. Avoid it completely if you are allergic to ragweed, Do not take lobelia internally on an ongoing basis.
SP-14 Valerian Blend from Solaray Products combats stress and is also beneficial.
Eat a diet including lightly steamed vegetables, fresh fruits, whole-grain products, white fish, skinless chicken and turkey, brown rice, and homemade soups and breads.
Avoid high-stress foods: all forms of sugar, all white flour products, all junk foods, candy, colas, potato chips, pies, and fast foods.
Do not consume any foods or beverages containing caffeine. As a stimulant, caffeine can increase tension, which often aggravates the problem. Also avoid taking over-thecounter medications containing decongestants, which can have a similar effect.
Do not consume alcoholic beverages. These are a common contributing factor in bruxism (tooth-grinding), which can cause or aggravate TMJ.
If you work at a desk, check your posture periodically throughout the day. Do not lean over the desk; keep your back comfortably straight, with your ears not too far in front of your shoulders. Try to keep your head aligned so that your cheekbones are over your collarbone.
Sleep on your back to give your back, shoulder, and neck muscles plenty of rest. Do not sleep on your side or lie on your stomach with your head turned to the -side Avoid propping your head at a sharp angle to read or watch television in bed.
Fast at least once a month to give the body and jaws a rest.
Do not chew gum. Avoid overly chewy foods such as red meet and bagels.
Experiment with heat and cold therapy, and use hot or cold packs - whichever works best - for relief of pain, especially pain in the neck and shoulders.
Be wary of a practitioner who rigidly adheres to one single approach in treating TMJ. A multi disciplinary team is a better choice. If possible, seek help from practitioners associated with a university dental or medical school.
TMJ is often treated with a special bite plate that is worn at night to prevent tooth-clenching and compression of the joint, and to correct the bite.
Stress management, combined with heat and muscle relaxants, often relieves the symptoms of TMJ.
Physical therapy is becoming a widely recognized, viable treatment for TMJ. This may involve jaw and tongue exercise to retrain stressed muscles and/or the use of a transcutaneous nerve stimulation (TENS) unit; ultrasound, which promotes tissue healing; and electrogalvanic stimulation, which helps relax muscles. These types of therapy should be prescribed in conjunction with an exercise and stress-reduction program.
Some TMJ sufferers have been helped by bio feedback readings taken from the masseter muscle (the muscle that opens and closes the jaw). This treatment, combined with relaxation techniques such as controlled breathing, has proved effective.
TMJ has become a much misdiagnosed and over treated disorder. People with ambiguous pain in various parts of their bodies (such as menstrual cramps) have been misdiagnosed as having TMJ, for example. Some health care practitioners have voiced concern that TMJ may be providing inadequately trained or even disreputable practitioners with in opportunity to take advantage of patients. According to in article published in the February 1993 issue of the New York State Journal of Medicine, TMJ is an area in which "dental quackery" is quite common.
Orthodontists, dentists, physical therapists, ind many other "specialists" now offer treatments for TMJ. However, it is estimated that 90 percent of all cases of TM) respond to simple, inexpensive treatments, such as those recommended in this section. It therefore makes sense to try such measures before investing in expensive medical or dental treatment.
TMJ is not the only disorder that can cause jaw pain. Another possible cause is rheumatoid arthritis. In this disorder, the symptoms are more severe in the morning and tend to ease somewhat as the day goes on, this is not usually the case with TMJ. A displaced disk can also cause jaw pain. Treatment for this disorder involves realigning the ligaments with a plastic splint.
Calcium & Magnesium
2000 mg daily
after meals or at bedtime
This provides proper muscular function and calming effect. Prevents bone softening and relieves stress. Use chelated forms.
