how to get tmj pain relief

Unless you have been affected by TMJ, you probably wouldn't know what it stands for. However, if you did suffer from the TMJ disorder you would know that it represents an abundance of unpleasant pain.

TMJ (temporomandibular joints) are those found on the side of a head which connect the lower jaw to the temporal bone. These joints allow the jaw to move in all directions, smoothly and in a flexible manner, when we chew food or have a casual conversation in talking to another person.

It is estimated that about 75 million of those who live in the United States have been affected by this disorder, but studies have been known to show at least 35% of our population being affected by this disorder according to the American Dental Association (ADA).

The symptoms usually occur when the joint is out of alignment or malfunctioning in some way that causes excessive pressure to build up. The pain can also be caused when a person swallows, about once every few minutes or so on average. The remedy to this is to correct the improper bite and removing the pressure which is present for those who have the TMJ disorder.

Just like other joints in the body, like the ankle, the TMJ joint responds the same way if injured. Joints that become inflamed cause the joint in question to swell, which in turn cause nerves around the joint to become extremely sensitive.

Case studies have shown women to suffer from the disorder two times more often than men.

The cause for the pain is usually due to a high impact or injury to the jaw or TMJ. Other causes have been defined as natural, which include a bad bite or displaced disk. Stress is known to be responsible for aggraviting conditions through grinding of the teeth and clenching. Studies have also shown that it could happen at night, unconsciously, while a person sleeps.

Surgery is a very last resort for relief, but is not a cure all solution. A person will generally do just as well taking medication long term vs having the surgery, although medication comes with other risks which could lead to liver damge or complications with the digestive system.

If you or someone you may know has the TMJ disorder then the following excercise may be painful, but could help identify the cause behind the pain being experienced.

To do this quick diagnosis to see if you may have this disorder, simply place your fingertips in front of your ears on each side of your head. The next step is to completely open and close your mouth, and you should be able to feel the joint on either side of your head. An alternative method is to place your little finger with the fingernail backwards in the ear canal, as you open and close your mouth try pressing the fingers forward and you should be able to feel the motion of the TMJ.

Not all symptoms are located in the jaw area though, a person may find other discomforts in other parts of the body. This could lead a person to seek tmj treatment for any chronic pain for neck pain relief or back pain treatment as well.