Can a Chiropractor Fix TMJ?

Chiropractic care is most often thought of as something individuals seek when they are suffering from back pain. But it can also help with a variety of other problems, such as Temporal Mandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJ). So the answer is YES, chiropractors can fix TMJ.

The ability to speak, chew and swallow or even yawn is a result of the jaw acting as a hinge to connect the mandible with the skull. This joint is one of the most commonly used joints in the body.

TMJ occurs when the disc becomes displaced or when the surrounding muscles and tendons become inflamed. The results are:

• Pain and tenderness around the joint directly in front of your ear


• The opening and closing of the mouth will become difficult or painful


• A grinding or crunching sound when an individual opens or closes their mouth

People with TMJ can also have earaches, headaches, dizziness, and muffled hearing.

A chiropractor can help with treating TMJ in two ways:

1. Providing Chiropractic Adjustments to the upper neck or jaw.


2. Recommending exercise, nutrition, and lifestyle changes to help speed recovery and prevent a relapse

Chiropractic treatment is very effective for patients with TMJ. Before treatment a Chiropractor will perform a full spinal analysis focusing on the upper neck and evaluating the jaw joint. Treatment plans will include chiropractic adjustments of the upper neck and/or jaw area. Depending on severity, patients may see immediate relief or will need a series of adjustments over time to see relief. Usually, the longer one waits to see a chiropractor for treatment, the longer the recovery time.

Chiropractors are concerned with not only treating patients until their pain dissipates, but also assuring their problems are permanently eliminated.

What are some of the philosophical elements associated with chiropractic care? Among them:

• Naturalism


• Rationalism


• Holism

Chiropractic care focuses on the total human body, in the belief that it is inter-related with both the environment and individuals' lifestyles.

In many cases, chiropractic care is proven to be more effective than drugs and medicines. Not only is it more effective, it helps patients through care that is gentler, cheaper, and does not include the potential for negative results later.

Chiropractors can recommend certain pain relieving exercises that help relax jaw muscles and relieve stress. Meditation and massage are some of the other methodologies adopted by the chiropractor to treat their patients.

Since chiropractic care is effective with disorders which are mechanical in nature it is very effective with TMJ. Not only is chiropractic effective, it is preferable when other options are more closely examined. For example, most people suffering from pain believe medication will provide quick relief for their problems. This is true, but medications only provide temporary pain relief and do not eliminate the cause. Medications may also result in harmful side-effects.

Surgery is another option for TMJ. But surgery can be costly, demand time away from work and other activities during recovery, and it can be dangerous.

Jaw Pain Home Remedies

This disorder puts incessant stress on your jaw. Learning the way to relax your jaw will help the agony to vanish fairly quickly. But this is typically simpler said than done. It's natural for you to tighten your jaw. Clenching your teeth is not unusual for folk with TMJ.

There are many home cures that you'll be able to find on the web. A mouth guard is just one of the possible solutions. In order to make this effective you'll be wanting to soak the mouth guard in hot water for a little while. It's best to use this method right before you go to bed at night and leave the guard in as you are sleeping. This is a useful method to eliminate the discomfort. There are a few things that you need to begin doing instantly like eating foods that are soft, taking small bites, stop dental gum, shifting sides that you chew your food and many others.

Searching the internet for different ways to dump the agony in your jaw will help you to uncover a range of techniques. Using warm and cold compresses will help in reducing the soreness in your jaw.

TMJ Jaw Pain Causes

Waking up with agony in your jaw, painfully chewing your food or merely severe agony in your jaw can be more than your willing to handle. There are a variety of causes, but often these are the most common causes - rheumatism, TMJ, sinus infections, ear illnesses and a spread of other minor causes. There'll be a range of symptoms that you'll feel if TMJ is the cause of your pain,eg ringing in the ear, sinus pressure, clicking in your jaw when eating, and headaches.

Going to a dentist and debating about the discomfort you are experiencing will help you to expose the underlying cause of your pain, which is the most effective way to help to find the correct treatment to get rid of or at the least scale back the level of distress or discomfort that you are experiencing. The dentist will examine your bite, and your teeth and debate a variety of issues with you like stress, food habits and your general fitness. The solutions to these questions will help them to reveal the cause of the pain in your jaw.

You may expose a spread of methods of treatments to relieve the discomfort like a hot or cold compress on your jaw will help to reduce the discomfort, using a mouth guard at night and soaking it in hot water for an extended period will help.

You'll learn about assorted other reasons behind jaw pain by doing a search on the internet, or by setting up an appointment with your dentist. You can read more about TMJ Jaw Pain Treatments [http://www.tmj.org/treatments.asp] here.

There are several natural remedies available which are worth investigating, ranging from self-help books to over-the-counter mouth guards. These inexpensive solutions are worth pursuing.

Jumping On A Trampoline - The Miraculous Way To Get In Shape!

Jumping basically requires flinging you about on a trampoline the way children do. And this way you loose the weight as well. Not only is this but it's a great activity for blood circulation, varicose veins and cellulite.

Trampoline is basically a net bed or elastic canvas, a spring rubber suspension anchors the bed to a metal frame of table height & exercise kit is ready. Rebounding energizes the inner working of cell system and increases the blood circulation. It adds forces in vertical direction. Accelerate and decelerate to the gravitational pull.

As far as safety is concerned, this requires certain precautions to be followed every time a person rebounds. Otherwise, it's an enjoyable exercise for anyone.

It is a great full body's work out, along with being non-jarring to the joints. For example, if you exercise on a hard surface, a lot of forces go into the body. This is not always good for body joints and can cause painful joints. But with a trampoline, mats absorb any jerk and reduce any bad effect on knees and waist joints.

A trampoline exercise works like a vacuum. As vacuum cleaner creates a vacuum at the end of the hose, where air rushes into fill the space same way rebounding cells are forced to the bottom of the bounce, to squeeze the toxins, poisons and trash out from around the cellular tissue spaces, making it easy for lymphatic to vacuum them up and clean the body. As it is said, if the lymphatic function properly, we are healthy. Otherwise, we are prone towards being ill.

So what is the best way to use a trampoline? Just to have fun, what else? But if you really want to know what the best way is, here is it:

1. Concentrate on pushing down the balls of the feet.

2. going up is natural; you do not need to do anything.

3. Keep abdominal in and maintain the correct posture throughout the work out.

And you'll enjoy every moment spent on your trampoline, the healthier way.

Three Ways Bad Teeth Can Ruin Your Life

Bad teeth don't just make you look awkward-they may seriously ruin your whole life! Bad teeth smell bad, look pathetic, and become loose, infected and eventually fall out, leaving you-yes, you guessed it-toothless. In addition, bad teeth can cost you days of agonizing pain that pulsates from the sick teeth with a force that feels like your head is going to explode.

Your cheeks might also become swollen, your gums might bleed...OK, you get the point: bad teeth are no fun and should be fixed.

But if you're still not persuaded to make an appointment with your dentist, continue reading to learn about three ways bad teeth can ruin your life.

Let's talk about your social life...

Chances are, the discussion about your social life will be very short because you simply do not have one. As soon as you open your mouth to talk or make a friendly smile, people instinctively start to move away from you. While this might be a good thing on those days when you would like to be left alone, it can ruin your social life in the long run. Perhaps you should take the time to balance out the pros and cons of seeing one of your local cosmetic dentists, as this might lead to a revelation that you are long overdue for an appointment.

How about your professional life?

Bad teeth affect your whole life, not just your social interactions. Perhaps you've noticed that you're consistently being overlooked for a promotion, or that you're always assigned projects that don't require any team leading or public speaking whatsoever. Maybe these are coincidences. But all the people who do get promoted seem to have perfectly even pearly whites that make their smiles look almost irresistible. Even if you won't do it for simple aesthetic reasons, perhaps the prospect of being professionally recognized might make you get a simple teeth whitening treatment or even cover the Invisalign braces cost.

The bottom line: Your health

If you're still on the fence about seeing a dentist, how about doing it for the sake of your health? Wouldn't you like to get rid of recurring teeth and gum infections, fix bleeding gums, strengthen your teeth, stop clenching and grinding in your sleep? All of these uncomfortable symptoms might be signs of a disease that can be treated without the dreaded dental drill but with a simple orthodontic device. A case in point is temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). This condition can cause years of discomfort and pain in the jaw-neck region. However, a custom TMJ treatment, such as a nighttime teeth device, can help you get rid of your symptoms and get on with your life.

TMD and Migraine Headaches

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD) is a condition in which your bite becomes misaligned, causing many serious and often painful health problems. You will see the acronyms TMJ and TMD often used interchangeably, but they will also be used to distinguish the joint (TMJ) from the actual disorder of the joint (TMD).

One of the most painful and debilitating symptoms of TMD is migraine headache. Many physicians, even neurologists, have not received the dental training required to diagnose TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) problems and how they relate to your migraines. Neuromuscular dentistry is the branch of dentistry that helps people correct the jaw problems that have caused them pain for years, possibly even decades.

TMD causes migraines because the trigeminal nerve is one of the most powerful and complex nerves in the human body. This nerve is completely responsible for the temporomandibular joint and tooth functions and accounts for over 40% of the brain's processing. The trigeminal nerve has three branches, all affecting various parts of the face, head, shoulders and arms. The pain and muscle tightness associated with TMD can even affect your hands and fingers.

Pain related to TMD may be sharp and searing or dull and constant. Pain is typically over the joint immediately in front of the ear but can radiate elsewhere and cause spasms in the muscles attached to the bones of the skull, face and jaws. Some of the most notable symptoms of TMD are:

· Limited jaw movement

· Locking, clicking, and popping of the jaw

· Tingling or numbness in the fingers

· Difficulty swallowing

· Insomnia

· Headaches

· Stiff or tight jaw muscles

· Ear problems, including ringing and pressure

· Neck, shoulder, and back pain

Many times, patients see doctors for severe headache and are given medications to treat the pain of the headache; however, there is often no treatment provided for what is actually causing the headaches. Neuromuscular dentistry is the specialized area of dentistry that treats the cause, not just the symptoms, of the painful headaches associated with a misaligned jaw.

Bowen Therapy - Conditions That Benefit From Bowen Treatments

Most acute conditions (90%) respond to Bowen treatments within 2-3 sessions (you begin to feel results) and resolve in 3-5 sessions (relief of your symptoms). Most results are long-lasting or permanent. Periodic follow-up treatments are recommended for general health maintenance.

Chronic, long standing conditions respond to Bowen treatments within 2-3 sessions, but may take longer to resolve for long-lasting relief of symptoms!

Below is a list of conditions I've treated successfully using the Bowen technique.

Abdominal Pain

Adrenal Exhaustion

Allergy

Angina Pain

Arthritis

Asthma

Backache

Back Pain

Bacterial Infections

Bed Wetting

Bell's Palsy

Bladder

Blood Impurities

Blood Pressure (Low or High)

Breast Lumps

Breast Pain

Bronchitis

Bunions

Carpal Tunnel

Chest Pain

Chronic Fatigue

Chronic Pain

Circulation

Coccyx Pain

Colds & Flu

Colic

Constipation

Depression

Diaphragm Pain

Diarrhaea

Digestive Problems

Diverticulitis

Dizziness

Eczema

Edema

Emphysema

Epstein Barr (Mono)

Fears and Phobias

Fever

Fibromyalgia

Flatulence

Fluid Retention

Frozen Shoulder

Fungal Infections

Gall Bladder Pain

Gall Stones

Gastro-Intestinal Discomfort

Glandular Fever

Groin Strain

Hammer Toes

Hay Fever

Headache

Heart Conditions

Hemorrhoids

Hernia (Inguinal)

Herpes Simplex

High Shoulder

Immune system

Incontinence (adult)

Indigestion

Infection

Infertility

Influenza

Injury

Insomnia

Irregular Milk Supply when breast feeding

Jaw pain

Kidney Problems

Knee Surgery

Lactation

Leg Cramps

Liver Problems

Lumbago

Lungs

Lymphatic Drainage

Mastitis

Meniere's Disease

Menopause

Menstruation

Migraine

Musculo-Skeletal

Nausea

Neck Pain

Nervous Exhaustion

Nervous Tension

Obesity

Osteoporosis

Pancreatitis

Period Cramps

Plantar Fascitis

Pregnancy (discomfort)

Pre-Menstrual Tension

Prostate

Psoriasis

Rash

Respiratory Problems

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)

Sacral Pain

Sciatica

Scoliosis

Shin Splints

Shock

Shoulder Pain

S.I. Joint Pain

Sinus

Skin Disorders

Sternal Pain

Stomach Ulcer

Stress

Teeth and Gums

Temperomandibular Joint (TMJ)

Tennis Elbow

Tendinitis

Ulcers

Urinary Tract

Varicose Veins

Viral infections

Warts

Holistic MindBody Therapy, including pure essential oils, are gentle, noninvasive complementary forms of health care for balancing and synchronizing your body, mind and spirit and a natural, safe and effective way to enhance your health and well-being. Holistic health care often produces satisfying results where other methods have failed. Please consult with your physician regarding serious health concerns and do not attempt to self diagnose.

Can I Get Social Security Disability for Fibromyalgia?

Social Security has Impairment Listings for Heart Ailments, Back Ailments, etc. Fibromyalgia is not found among the Impairment Listings. Thus, an applicant cannot obtain a favorable disability "Impairment Listing" ruling because Fibromyalgia is not found among the Listings. The inquiry must proceed further.

Social Security has a five step disabilty process. First, if you are working, then the inquiry stops. Second, if you do not have a "severe impairment," the inquiry stops. Third, if you are not working and you have a "severe impairment" the next inquiry is does your "severe impairment" meet or equal a Listed Impairment. You cannot win a fibromyalgia case at this step because there is no listing for fibromyalgia although it can be a "severe impairment" and get you past step two. Thus, with a fibromyalgia case, you will have to go to step four. At step four the judge must decide if you can do your past relevant work (PRW). This is any work you did in the past 15 years prior to your onset of disability. If the judge finds you cannot do PRW, then you go to step five which is can you do any other work in the national economy. All my fibromyalgia cases have gone to step five.

Social Security has begun to recognize fibromyalgia as a legitimate impairment:

On May 11, 1998 the Deputy Commissioner for Disability indicated as follows: Fibromyalgia is a disorder defined by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and we recognize it as medically determinable if there are signs that are clinically established by the medical record. The signs are primarily the tender points. The ACR defines the disorder in patients as "widespread pain in all four quadrants of the body for a minimum duration of 3 months and at least 11 of the 18 specified tender points which cluster around the neck and shoulder, chest, hip, knee, and elbow regions." Other typical symptoms, some of which can be signs if clinically documented over time, are irritable bowel syndrome, chronic headaches, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, sleep disorder, severe fatigue, and cognitive dysfunction.

Thus, with the above in mind, you try to win a fibromyalgia case with a report from a doctor who specializes in arthritis or rheumatology and who can state the claimant's case meets the above guidelines & the impairment is so severe it affects the claimant's functions to such a degree the claimant cannot work. Of course, the doctor needs to itemize how the fibromyalgia adversely affects standing, walking, lifting, sitting, reaching, etc. The doctor's treatment records need to support his disability report. Recently, I have good success in this area. However, there still is a lot of prejudice out there against fibromyalgia.

For more advice, you can contact us at www.virginiadisabilitylawyer.com or email us at jervalaw@aol.com or reach us at http://www.geraldlutkenhaus.com

This may be considered AN ADVERTISEMENT or Advertising Material under the Rules of Professional Conduct governing lawyers in Virginia. This note is designed for general information only. The information presented at this site should not be construed.

Bruxism Symptoms - Do You Have Bruxism Symptoms?

Teeth clenching is also known as bruxism. It puts pressure on the tissues, muscles, and other parts surrounding the jaw area. Although it is not a life-threatening disorder, the symptoms can lead to temporomandibular joint problems or TMJ. Frequent teeth grinding can also wear down the teeth and can be an inconvenience to your sleeping partner.

Aside from clenching the teeth, there are other bruxism symptoms including stress, tension, anxiety, depression, headache, eating disorders, sleeping disorders, sensitivity of teeth to cold, hot or sweet foods and beverages, painful or sore jaw, and earache. Earache can occur partly because the TMJ joint structures are located close to the ear canal. People with symptoms feel pain around the ear area and other locations. This pain is called referred pain.

Aside from psychological factors, symptoms occur when the person has dental disorders, ear disorders like ear infection, or innate temporomandibular joint or TMJ. People with a history of tension and stress can also exhibit signs of bruxism.

Here is a list of symptoms according to physical and psychological factors:

Physical symptoms include TMJ, muscle discomfort and aches, muscle pain or facial myalgia, shoulder pain, stiffness or tightness, ear ache, inability to open mouth widely, abnormal teeth wear, recession and inflammation of gums, untimely teeth loss, excessive tooth mobility, and obstructed or disrupted sleep of both the person and his or her partner.

Studies show that teeth grinding often cause headache. Individuals who exhibit these symptoms are most likely to feel headaches compared to people who do not have this problem. It is also said that people with long-term bruxism experience craniofacial pain compared to non-bruxists.

However, not all studies point out that the mentioned symptoms will likely be related to the problem. There is little study about the direct cause and effect relationship between these general symptoms and teeth grinding. For example, relentless TMJ discomfort can possibly result in depression rather than the other way around.

In case of small kids and children, this can be caused by overly large tonsils and adenoids. In addition, children are more easily awakened during sleep, which may or may not be a cause. There is one study that indicated that children with behavior issues and attention difficulties exhibit this problem. There is little study to support that the symptoms in children are caused by sleep apnea. Bruxism in children may be generally accounted for psychological factors and not sleep disorders or physical ailments or conditions.

Don't Suffer - TMJ Home Remedies You Can Find in Your Home

If you suffer from Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, known as TMJ, you're no stranger to severe headaches and jaw pain. The condition remains a mystery to many doctors and dentists, and stress seems to be a primary factor in development of TMJ. While we don't know what exactly causes TMJ, there are many TMJ home remedies that can help.

The most important thing you can do to alleviate the discomfort of TMJ-related jaw pain is to go easy on yourself. Be kind to yourself, and find time to relax. Mediation and visualization techniques can be enormously helpful, not only with your TMJ discomfort, but with all aspects of your life.

Some foods are excellent TMJ home remedies as well. Try a little flax seed on your morning cereal. Some sufferers have relieve their TMJ pain entirely by this method. Flax seed probably works because it is high in Omega 3 fatty acids, which are known to reduce inflammation. Other foods that are high in Omega 3 fatty acids are salmon and english walnuts.

Physical therapy exercises are TMJ home remedies that you can do yourself. These exercises are designed to re-align your jaw. TMJ sufferers will find that when they open their mouths, the jaw moves to one side. Stand in front of a mirror and open your mouth. Notice the alignment of your jaw as you open, and focus on keeping your chin aligned with your nose. It may help to place the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth. Continue opening and closing your mouth ten times, being careful to align your jaw properly. Repeat this exercise three to four times a day and you will begin to feel relief as you rebuild the weak muscles.

Through these behaviors, foods and exercises, you will soon be relieved of your TMJ pain.

What Are Temporomandibular Joint Disorders?

Temporomandibular joint disorder is better known as TMJ syndrome. Many people suffer from this affliction that can cause serious pain. This can actually turn into a chronic condition and many people will be treated each year for it.

Inflammation takes place in the temporomandibular joint, that's located between the mandible and the skull; in fact it actually connects the two. Signs that you may be suffering from TMJ are pain in your ear, headaches, hearing loss, and even locking of the jaw.

There are many more symptoms that may lead a dentist to believe you are suffering from TMJ. They are pain behind the eyes, feelings of numbness in arms and fingers, pain in your neck, back, or shoulders, and even dizziness.

As you can tell TMJ doesn't just affect your teeth but your whole body. That's why so many people are suffering and seeking out help as soon as they can.

So what are some ways that you get TMJ? Some people will not even realize it but they are moving their jaws everyday in a same way, its called bruxing. Trauma, maybe a car accident or something like that. Excessive chewing of gum or even biting your nails can cause TMJ. Also the teeth maybe misaligned, which will affect the way your mouth closes, and perhaps lead to grinding and TMJ.

Dentist can treat TMJ though and help to relieve that pain. You may get fitted for a guard that will help to reduce the bruxing you may be doing. These will most likely need to be worn at all times of the day, but especially when sleeping. The dentist can also help to fix the misalignment of the teeth that may have caused TMJ in the first place. A very hard problem to deal with, but getting help is only a call away.

Speaking Of The Truth: Reiki And Effective Communication

When examining the particulars connected to the fifth chakra, the throat, zone of communication and expression, imbalances or diseases that manifest can produce a myriad of symptoms: Sore throat, thyroid imbalance TMJ (Temporomandibular joint disorder of the jaw bones), weak voice, hearing loss, repeat colds, shyness, feeling dis-empowered, overly emotional, uncommunicative, egoic you speak...but others look as though you are an alien!

Some suggestions to help clear away the energetic traffic jam may include: Singing, Humming Chanting Screaming-Yes. A good scream can do wonders in terms of releasement. Trust me, I've done it a few times to shed what I needed to release,

For those who are familiar with The Law of Attraction, we can also apply this concept to imbalances in the throat chakra; what we send out is returned to us. The Universe is quite explicit in guiding us to live our truth. I recently read a quote that states "Living your truth is as much about knowing who you are as what you stand for".

From a Reiki practitioner's perspective, clients who seek out Reiki as a means of restoring balance to their physical vessel, typically express feelings of overwhelment, frustration or anger. In assessing and observing, we find it may be a reflection of feeling as though they aren't being heard. Or, perhaps they are not speaking their truth.

While the practitioner focuses on all seven chakras (root, sacral, solar plexus, heart, throat, third eye and crown), extra attention may be placed on the throat chakra to allow the congested energy to come towards the surface and melt or burn away, further completing the client's healing process.

Channeling Universal Love & Healing Energy can assist in releasing congestion in our communication zone. A byproduct of this healing can surface as a cough, scratchy throat, excess phlegm, metallic or "funky" taste in the mouth. While they may seem annoying to the client, I reinforce that it's a positive step in their healing journey. This allows life force energy to move in a more natural rhythm. It also allows the client to speak clearly, concisely and with defined intention.

I once worked with a client was an airline attendant. She was cute as a button. During our session, I observed congestion to her throat chakra. Through the discussion process, she shared that one of her co-workers had been making sarcastic comments towards her. Frustrated, she would stay silent and not engage in a banter of words. When she returned for a follow up session a few weeks later, I asked how things were going with this person. Her eyes widened and she explained that when she returned to work, the co worker made yet another sarcastic comment. My client firmly told her that her comments were unwarranted and basically put her in her place! From that moment forward, there was no more comments from the peanut gallery!

Now, while each case is unique, Reiki clearly was instrumental in this situation. My client was able to release the frustration, anger and self critical feelings regarding herself and her coworker in a healthy, positive way. Reiki allowed her to feel confident in communicating her thoughts and intentions.

Furthermore, we are seeing more people opening up to their Spiriutal gifts. In the early stages, uncertainty of how to step into their Light can cause im-balances to their throat chakra. Again, the bond between client and Reiki practitioner can provide loving assistance in working through these feelings.

At the end of the day, Spirit reminds us how much our truth shapes our experiences. A valuable lesson for everyone.

And So It Is...

How to Eliminate TMJ and Tooth Grinding

If you have TMJ you would know that it can be a painful and disturbing condition. You would therefore naturally want to find a way to eliminate TMJ and tooth grinding. It may not however be as simple as going to the dentist. What is a good solution for your TMJ problem?

Grinding and TMJ

TMJ pain should not be your sole reason for eliminating the condition. Teeth grinding is one way to make your TMJ pain and discomfort worse. Frequent grinding can put a lot of pressure on your jaws and muscles. This is the main reason why you should eliminate TMJ and tooth grinding together. Aside from preventing TMJ pain, getting rid of your grinding habit can also protect you from getting worn or damaged teeth.

There are many causes of teeth grinding and the various methods of treatment depend on these various causes. Grinding may be caused by stress, a bad bite and bad teeth. Some people also unconsciously grind their teeth while they are asleep at night. You have to know and understand the unique cause of your grinding habit to be able to effectively eliminate TMJ and tooth grinding.

Doctors and Treatments

As mentioned, the particular cause or reason behind your TMJ problem may influence how you can eliminate TMJ and tooth grinding. The kind of treatment however will also depend on the kind of specialist that you approach. If you have an existing dental problem that is the cause of your teeth grinding then you may have to approach a dentist or an orthodontic expert. They may prescribe the following solutions:

- Your specialist may require you to wear a special night guard that can help eliminate TMJ and tooth grinding. Sometimes, the guard may have to be worn in the morning too. The use of a guard however should depend on your condition. Some patients have experienced worsening conditions due to guards

- If you have a bad bite then your specialist may require dental therapy or restoration. You may also be fitted with special devices such as bridges and crowns

Other Methods

Your specialist may prescribe another form of treatment to help eliminate TMJ and tooth grinding if the condition is not caused by dental problems. The following are some examples of possible treatments:

- Stress management techniques can help eliminate TMJ and tooth grinding in people who have a TMJ condition because of stress. Stress management however encompasses a variety of techniques and methods. The ones that you choose to adopt will depend on your comfort level. You can choose to practice yoga and meditation or you can opt to undergo group or one on one counseling. Other related techniques include progressive relaxation, NLP and biofeedback.

- Sometimes the best way to eliminate mild conditions of TMJ is to simply allow your jaws to rest and watch the habits that may aggravate TMJ. You could for example avoid eating hard foods.

- Depending on your TMJ condition, you may benefit from gentle jaw exercises and massage.

5 TMJ Remedies You Can Do At Home Today

TMJ is a common affliction in our society. Those who suffer from TMJ know that it causes severe jaw pain and headaches. Many health care professionals believe that TMJ is caused by stress, though research has not come up with any definitive answers regarding this. Even though the true reason for TMJ is unknown, several self-help techniques are available to sufferers.

1) Take It Easy

You must give your body a chance to unwind and settle in comfortably if you want to combat TMJ. Give yourself some sit-down time to rest and for the pain to dissipate before trying to move around again. Such a suggestion is a critical one, given that our lifestyles tend to be quite hectic.

We lead such busy lives that quite often we do a lot of damage to our own bodies because we do not have the time to let the damage heal. Being overly stressed for long periods of time certainly can cause temporomandibular joint disorder. This is why it is so important to be in a relaxed state of mind to alleviate the symptoms.

2) Mind Your Diet

TMJ sufferers can benefit greatly by adjustments in the foods they eat. Many TMJ self-help authorities recommend flax seeds for alleviating the discomforts caused by TMJ. According to these experts, flax seeds contain large volumes of Omega 3 fatty acids that help in reducing the inflammation.

3) Give Your Jaw a Workout

Physically exercising your jaw is another important TMJ home remedy that should be considered. Such targeted movements help properly align the jaws of sufferers. In the majority of TMJ cases, the jaw moves off to one side when the mouth is opened.

A method for putting things back into proper alignment is to open the mouth in front of a mirror. Your nose and chin should be aligned with each other when your mouth opens and closes. Now, open and close your mouth by properly aligning your jaw. Repeat this exercise at least ten times, three times every day. Not only will this add strength to the weakened jaw muscles, but it will also help to rebuild the muscles properly, while maintaining a perfect alignment.

4) Avoid Small Physically Stressful Activities

So there are things that you can do to relieve your TMJ discomfort. You should also watch out for, and eliminate, bad habits such as cradling the telephone between your shoulder and cheek, clenching your teeth, and reclining your head on your hand. Further, most of us do not maintain a proper posture when it comes to sitting while working at a desk. It is important that you use a chair that is capable of supporting your back, neck and shoulder.

5) Using pain killers

To ease the pain in your jaw, neck or shoulder, there are a wide variety of pain killers. Anti-inflammatory pain killers are available of course, in the form or aspirin and ibuprofen and they can greatly aid in relieving pain.

Try these 5 tips before wasting money and time on a dentist and see if your TMJ problem improves.

Natural TMJ Relief - 5 Easy to Follow Tips for TMJ Relief

Pain and fragility of the TMJ (Temporo-Mandibular Joint) is one of the most painful of disorders that human beings can experience. It can severely impact one's physical and mental functionality in everyday life. There are several treatments available for TMJ. If you have been diagnosed with TMJ, in all likelihood its better to take treatment immediately.

While doctors have their own methods to treat TMJ, they often only treat the functional unit of the problem. The root cause often remains untreated, which can still cause pain and prolong the duration of the problem. However, there are natural TMJ relief tips which can clear the root causes and prevent a recurrence of the disease.

Before attempting to relieve yourself from TMJ, it is important to note that TMJ is often related to stress - physical and mental. A healthy lifestyle can reduce stress at home and workplace. This can work wonders for not only TMJ, but also migraines, pain in the lower-back and reducing hypertension. These natural TMJ relief tips are aimed at a holistic coverage of all factors that lead to TMJ pain.

1. Following jaw exercises - There are plenty of exercises for aiding jaw alignment, mobility and pain relief. They are taught by physiotherapists and chiropractors. You can also find them over the internet.

2. Throat and Tongue - The throat and tongue muscles are connected with the jaw. Hence keeping them stress free is important for natural TMJ relief. Simple exercises at home can help accomplish this.

3. Breathing exercises - A regulated deep-breathing can supply more oxygen to muscles and aid them to function better. This reduces fatigue in the muscles after a long day of work.

4. Massage - Getting a head massage from a trained professional can work wonders for TMJ pain, relaxing the muscles and neutralizing pain nodes along the face, the jaw, throat.

5. Minimize incoming stress - By reducing the factors that ultimately lead to pain, you are likely to prevent it. This requires change in eating habits, work environment, para-functional habits and lifestyle changes.

Chronic Head, Face, Or Neck Pain That Won't Go Away - Could it Be TMJ?

Chronic head, face, or neck pain that won't go away could indeed be TMJ. Although there are other causes of this type of pain, it may be associated with a TMJ disorder if the chronic pain exists along with a number of other symptoms associated with TMJ.

Other symptoms of TMJ include:

1. Facial pain that feels like extreme electrical or shock like attacks.

2. In contrast, you may also have facial pain in the jaw area and near the ear that is dull and throbbing in nature as well.

3. Facial pain that is associated with a burning sensation.

4. Facial pain that is located on one side of the face only, or is accompanied by swelling on one side of the face.

5. Facial pain in the jaw area that is present upon awakening; the cause of this pain is due to nighttime tooth grinding and jaw clenching, and may be related to TMJ.

6. Facial pain that does not respond to antibiotics; this is often one sign that the facial pain is not a result of infection, sinusitis, or other respiratory illness.

7. Tooth ache pains that are not associated with any cavity, infection, gum disease, or any diagnosis by a traditional dentist.

8. Facial pain, pain in the ears or below or in front of the ears for which a doctor has not been able to find a cause.

9. Facial muscles that feel stiff, tired, or painful after speaking a lot, upon awakening, during the day, or when yawning.

10. Head pain at the side of the temples.

11. Head pain accompanied by a blocked or stuffed sensation in the ears, or ringing ears.

12. Head or facial pain accompanied by a burning mouth sensation.

13. Neck problems associated with throat pain, difficult swallowing, or sore throat.

14. In some cases tongue pain may accompany face pain as well.

If you have any of the above symptoms along with chronic head, face, and/or neck pain, it is a good idea for you to consult with your doctor in order to find an effective treatment plan. Of course you will need to consult with a doctor before determining a specific diagnosis for your condition, but if it is a TMJ disorder there are many treatment options available to help you find relief from the pain.

Jazzercise For Your Jaw: 3 Relaxation Exercises That Can Help TMJ Sufferers

TMJ may be caused by stress and unreleased nervous energy. Grinding your teeth, which may also be a stress induced behavior, also puts you at increased risk for a TMJ disorder. TMJ disorders are more common in women than men. Over ten million people in the United States suffer from TMJ related disorders.

There are several different treatments for TMJ disorders. Stress management is an essential part of treatment and it involves learning techniques for relaxing and reducing stress. Here are three different exercises that can help TMJ sufferers with their pain. Please remember to check with your doctor or dentist before implementing any new jaw exercises or stretches to your daily routine.

Deep Breathing

One way to reduce your stress level is through deep breathing. It is one of the best ways to lower stress in the body. Reduced stress levels can help alleviate TMJ pain. One simple exercise involves a short ten minute breathing session. This exercise can be done from a sitting position or you may lie on your back. Close your eyes. Place one hand on your stomach and one hand over your chest. Breathe in and out through your nose. Watch your hands as you breathe in and out. The hand over your belly should rise and fall with every breath. Breathing with your belly indicates that you are breathing deeply. Continue this exercise for ten minutes or until your breath is regulated and you feel relaxed.

Jaw Stretches

You may not realize it, but during times of stress or anxiety, your jaw is likely tensed and clenched. It is essential to perform jaw stretches and exercises to relax your tension and also to strengthen the jaw.

In terms of stretches, slowly open your mouth wide like you are yawning and then slowly close it. Then stretch the jaw side to side. Without using your hands, move your jaw to the left as far as possible. Then make a fist with your right hand and slightly nudge your jaw as far left as it comfortably goes. Hold this position for thirty seconds. Repeat up to four times. Then switch to the right side. This will help to loosen the muscles and alleviate TMJ muscle pain. You can do these stretching exercises anywhere and at any time.

Jaw Exercises

A simple jaw exercise involves resistance training. Place your thumb underneath the bottom of your chin. Try opening your mouth slowly as you while providing light pressure with your thumb. Your jaw should be pushing against your thumb. Hold your mouth open for about five seconds while maintaining the light pressure with your thumb. Then slowly close your mouth. Repeat this exercise up to ten times to strengthen your jaw. This exercise can be done anywhere and at any time.

How to Stop TMJ?

TMJ is a disorder of Temporo mandibular joint or the place around the joint of the jaws. This region is very sensitive and gets destabilized by the slightest pressure or tension. This problem can cause severe pain or discomfort and hamper natural activities and can even make talking naturally a difficult task. This can lead to embarrassment and make one's social life dysfunctional. Not to mention the severe pain often associated with it.

Though there are no proven ways to completely and permanently stop TMJ, you can choose from among many procedures to considerably lessen the pain and discomforts. Some of these procedures involve crowns and caps fitted on your teeth while others involve natural procedures like exercises. Which procedure you choose to stop TMJ will depend on what the cause of your problem is.

The most important cause of this condition is usually stress. If that is the case then you should use some kind of stress relieving treatment. You can also try aversive conditioning, have someone wake you up every time you grind teeth. Massed negative practices can also be effective, try alternate clenching and relaxing of teeth, for 5 minutes each.

Your doctor can opt for treatments like putting guards on your teeth. Also useful are some medicines like botulinal toxin injections or you may be referred to a psychiatrist or a counselor.

Avoid or lessen the intake of alcohol, tea and coffee and any food containing chocolate. If you really want to go for natural solutions you might want to try TMJ exercises. These exercises can be very effective in producing a long lasting cure.

How to Find a TMJ Specialist

Are you one of the approximately 10 million Americans with TMJ? Do you need to see a TMJ specialist? If you don't know, ask yourself the following questions:

1. Do you feel pain in your upper and/or lower jaw?
2. Do you get headaches frequently and often accompanied by facial pain?
3. Do you have ringing in your ears?
4. Do you hear a clicking or popping sound when you open or close your mouth?

If you answered yes to any of these, then you may well have a problem.

TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint dysfunction, and it's a condition where the hinge joint that connects your skull with your jaw becomes irritated, painful, dislodged, or locked. These symptoms are typical of TMJ dysfunction, and if you suspect you may be suffering from this disorder, you need to find a TMJ specialist as soon as possible to get yourself treated.

Here are some things you can do to find effective treatment:

1. Keep a record of all your symptoms and issues so that you'll have information to discuss with your healthcare providers. Note when and where the pain occurs, what brings it on, and what makes it feel better. At the same time, try to learn more about the condition, its causes, its symptoms, and its treatment. The Internet is a great place to find a lot of information in articles and posts. You may even want to check message boards for other TMJ patients' comments to see what they've experienced and how your case is similar to or different from theirs.

2. Take the information you found, along with your symptom log, to your primary care doctor, who can examine you and make a preliminary diagnosis. As most primary care physicians are not TMJ specialists, your doctor will, if the situation warrants it, send you to someone who is. That someone will most likely be your dentist, and she can help directly in finding the reason behind the symptoms you're experiencing. She will give you a thorough mouth and jaw exam and review your history of symptoms. She may also use diagnostic tests, such as X-rays and CT (computerized tomography) scans to examine both the teeth and the soft tissue around them. If she determines the cause of your problems is TMJ, one of the first things she may try is to fashion an oral appliance to prevent teeth grinding and clenching. If that is not helpful, she may refer you to an orthodontist or other specialist, such as a maxillofacial surgeon to help. Sometimes it is necessary to treat a jaw imbalance through surgery, but usually this is considered only as a last resort. Make sure you understand why your dentist is referring you to someone else.

3. Now that you've seen your dentist and gotten an official diagnosis of TMJ, go get a second opinion, and a third, and maybe even a fourth. This is crucial! Not every person is the same, and not all people have the same type and severity of TMJ. You want to find a TMJ specialist who will treat YOU correctly, and you can only do this by asking others their opinion of what you have learned. And if you feel uneasy about a treatment option she offers, be sure to ask why she's recommending it for you; don't blindly accept a treatment without understanding all the implications of what that treatment means.

4. Once you and your specialist have settled on a potential treatment, pause for a moment and ask your health insurance company if they will cover it. Not all insurance companies cover TMJ treatment, so it's always a good idea to check ahead. If they will not cover it, find out how much the treatment would cost you, and decide if that is an acceptable amount. Don't let yourself get pressured into an untenable situation just because the specialist wants to do it.

5. It's also important, as you go through the process of dealing with your TMJ issues, to find support. It's always much better to have someone who knows what you're going through; that way you can talk over all the points and compare notes on opinions and procedures. There are TMJ support groups around, and you should consider reaching out to one. Not only will you make new friends and maybe get a lead on a good doctor, but you'll also get good advice and suggestions on how other patients with TMJ are coping.

The burden falls on you to decide which, if any of the proffered options, is right for treating your TMJ. Be proactive. Seek out a TMJ specialist that has your best interest in mind, as well as the best program possible. It is your body, after all. Take good care of it.

TMJ Symptoms

TMJ stands for Temporomandibular Joint, which is the joint in the temple area where the lower jaw pivots against the skull. TMJ syndrome (also called TMD, for Temporomandibular Joint Disorder) is a collection of symptoms all resulting from a defect in the way the jaw joint works.

Because there are some large nerves running through the temple area, across the face and head, and down the neck to the shoulders, pain can be felt in any of these areas, all from stress in the way your jaw joint operates.

Reasons why you might develop TMJ

· A blow to the head, which knocks the joint out of position.

· An inherited flaw in the structure or positioning of the jaws.

· Many years of teeth grinding, or gum-chewing. This can generate stress in the whole joint area and can wear down the cartilage pad, which buffers the jawbones; it's supposed to protect the upper and lower jawbones from rubbing directly against each other. When it's worn, or out of position, and the bones rub on each other, pain is generated.

· Misaligned teeth, which cause the lower jaw to meet the upper jaw in a tense position. This is called dental malocclusion, or a misaligned bite.

Common symptoms

You may be suffering from TMJ if you have:

· Severe headaches

· Earaches

· Ringing in the ears

· Worn teeth

· A clicking noise when opening or closing your jaw

· The jaw getting locked or stuck

· Swelling around the jaw joint

· Tenderness or pain around the jaw joint

· Pain in your neck or shoulders

· Tingling in the fingers

· Dizziness

These symptoms can emerge in different combinations for different people. They are not all located exactly in the jaw. Why not? That's because large nerves run from the spinal column to the head area, with many branches extending into the face, neck and shoulders. When swelling and inflammation compresses any of these nerve branches, pain is felt at that location. The swelling and inflammation originates with the jaw joint and its muscles, and can spread, affecting different nerve branches in different people.

The role of neuromuscular dentistry

A neuromuscular dentist is one trained in treating not just gums and teeth, but also the jaw joint and its components: muscles, nerves, ligaments and blood vessels. Dr. Joseph Henry is a neuromuscular dentist in Los Angeles. Often, by the time people arrive at his office for help with their painful symptoms, they have visited a series of doctors in a fruitless search for pain relief.

"Too many people think their TMJ symptoms are incurable, but that's not true," says Dr. Henry. "It's possible to eliminate all TMJ symptoms with the technology now used by neuromuscular dentists. When the symptoms have a dental cause, it's a dentist who can successfully treat them and relieve the pain."

TMJ treatment

Treatment begins with neuromuscular testing. The root of the problem is misalignment in the jaw joint - a misaligned bite. So your jaw movements and positions will be tested, recorded, and measured. If the jaw is closing such that the lower teeth are colliding with parts of the upper teeth, this too will be examined. The neuromuscular dentist will focus on the relationship between jaw movement and teeth position to discover what is preventing your jaw from being relaxed.

Once the dentist finds your natural relaxed jaw position, further treatment is then planned. It will be different for each person. It might involve a special tray to be worn for a few months, to teach your jaw muscles some new movements. It might require some repositioning of teeth, or reshaping.

You don't have to live with those painful symptoms. Modern dentistry is a far cry from what our grandparents knew. Dental technology these days has made dental procedures much faster and easier, it has created more ways to treat dental problems, and made everything increasingly pain-free.

Want More Natural Therapy For Your TMJ? 9 Chinese Herbs to the Rescue

Many TMJ patients will stop at nothing to find a TMJ therapy that works for them. It is only natural too since a TMJ disorder can be very painful and bothersome. A TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorder is tough to diagnose since so many different components are involved in the construction of the joint and it's even tougher to cure for the same reason.

A TMJ disorder can cause pain in several different places centered on the head and neck area and it can also mean the joint doesn't function properly. One side of the jaw may open differently than the other or it could even get stuck open or closed. This would cause many problems whenever you spoke or tried to eat.

The worst thing is: there is no established treatment, there are no specifically trained specialists, and, even if you wanted to resort to surgery to fix the problem, there are no proven medical procedures to fix your TMJ disorder. The best route to go for now is to find a combination of natural TMJ therapies that you can do to relieve the symptoms you have.

Here are 9 Chinese herbs you can incorporate into your TMJ therapy regimen. Just keep in mind, there are other ones that would serve you better if your problem is caused by osteo or rheumatoid arthritis and if you have joint dislocation problems you may want to find some herbs for pain.

1. Pubescent Angelica (Radix Angelicae Pubescentis)
Effects: Expelling pathogenic wind, dampness, cold and relieving pain. It's great for patients with chronic pain. It's used in Chinese formulas for muscle and joint pain and stiffness.

2. Pseudoginseg (Radix Notoginseng)
Effects: Eliminates blood accumulation, stops bleeding; moves blood, calms pain. This herb is helpful for TMJ disorders caused by trauma. It will help to reduce swelling and pain.

3. Chaing-huo (Rhizoma Seu Radix Notopterygii)
Effects: Inducing diaphoresis, dispersing cold, expelling wind, removing dampness and relieving pain. This herb is stronger with relieving pain caused by wind, cold and dampness.

4. Peach Kernel (Semen Persicae)
Effects: Promoting blood circulation by relieving blood stasis, lubricating the bowels to relieve constipation. This one is rich in oils and promotes blood circulation.

5. Bupleurum (Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae)
Effects: Anti inflammatory, Anti-spasm, anti-hypertensive effect. This herb also acts as an analgesic and promotes circulation and relieves pain as well as stress.

6. Job's tears (Semen Coicis)
Effects: Expels wind dampness, clears damp heat and dampness that causes joint or muscle pain.

7. Cnidium (Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong)
Effects: Removes blood stasis, expels wind and relieves pain. It is used where there are symptoms including fixed pain and blood deficiency.

8. Cinnamon (Ramulus Cinnamomi)
Effects: warms the meridians, releases exterior wind cold and aids in areas where there is trauma or painful obstructions. It's also good in apple pies!

9. Blue atractylodes (Rhizoma Atractylodis)
Effects: removes dampness from the body, can expel wind cold and cold dampness from the body. Athletes take this because with a workout it will promote muscle growth and help with endurance.

Some of these herbs may be helpful for the same symptoms and could be hard to find. You may need to find a Chinese herb website to acquire these herbs. If you can locate most of them and learn to use them they will definitely become one of your best TMJ therapies.