TMD (Jaw Pain) Therapy in Elmhurst, IL and Surrounding Areas
Commonly misdiagnosed or overlooked, a subtle misalignment in the temporomandibular joint can be a common & significant source of head & neck pain. Even some migraines can be attributed to TMD.
The temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, is the joint connecting your jaw to your skull. You use this joint when you chew, swallow, speak, & even yawn—pretty much whenever you move your jaw.
Jaw pain originating from this joint is commonly classified as a temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMD, & can be felt in the joint itself or in the connecting muscles. While classified under one name, TMD can actually be caused by many different things, such as injury, grinding or pressure, arthritis, misalignment or even stress.
Treatment Overview
If your dentist suspects that stress or pressure on the jaw joint may be contributing to your TMD symptoms, you may benefit from relaxation techniques. From meditation & breathing exercises to medication targeting muscle relaxation or even anxiety, simply easing tension in the muscles around the jaw may help. Patients who grind their teeth while they sleep might find a night guard useful in reducing pressure, which can help ease the pain.
Additionally, some lifestyle changes may ease symptoms & give your joint & surrounding muscles time to recover from any pressure or injury that may have caused the TMD symptoms. Patients sometimes try eating soft foods rather than crunchy or chewy foods. Others simply avoid big jaw movements, like yawns or large mouthfuls of food. Quitting chewing gum could give your jaw muscles a break from constant irritation.
If you have frequent & severe head or neck pain, you owe it to yourself to investigate our doctor’s life-changing approach to correcting these TMJ problems. Call us to schedule a consultation to talk about what we can do for you.
