It's normal for your body to go through some wear and tear as we age. A number of my patients feel these effects within their bones and joints. They come to me regularly for treatment of gout in the trunk or thighs, but I don't get as many complaints about jaw pain. This could possibly be due to the fact that individuals who undergo facial soreness or difficulty chewing gum do not realize that feeble joints-not simple old age-are to blame.

These painful joints on your jaw are called TMJ Syndrome. TMJ describes temporomandibular joints which are the lower part of the jaw to the sides of the mind, just in front of the ears. Approximately 1 third of the populace has experienced some level of TMJ, but extreme cases are rare. It is essential to be aware of the signs and causes of TMJ so it's possible to recognize this condition before it escalates and severely impacts your lifetime.

Know the Causes and Symptoms

Like all the joints in your body, the TMJ can cling to atherosclerosis, the wearing down of joints because of aging. Rheumatoid arthritis may also be the source of TMJ, as this inflammatory disease can erode cartilage and bone, weakening the joint. Often, a dentist will be the first to diagnose a patient with TMJ. Your dentist is most likely to observe the effects of grinding and clenching, which often occur during sleep. Your dentist may also see if your bite alignment is away or in case you've got a weak sting. All these things may be variables in TMJ syndrome.

My older patients aren't the only individuals who encounter TMJ. An injury to the jaw may cause TMJ symptoms that recur if untreated. Stress is also one of the leading causes, and it can strike at any age. Stress tends to cause the grinding and clenching that weaken and pressure the jaw. If you are able to detect that you are grinding during the night (maybe your spouse has noticed) I would suggest first trying some anxiety reduction techniques like therapy, massage or meditation.

The most frequent TMJ symptom is pain in the jaw area. You may also have sore shoulders, back or neck. Pain when chewing food and trouble consuming are irritating, but common indications. You may hear popping and clicking noises when you chat or chew as a result of improper jaw alignment.

This faulty alignment may also cause swelling of your face, nausea, headaches and nausea. Due to closeness, the TMJ joints may have an effect on the ears, causing hearing or ringing issues. In extreme cases of TMJ syndrome, the jaw may get locked, in which case you need to immediately seek remedy.

Manage Your Flare-Ups

TMJ symptoms may be alleviated relatively fast, provided you practice good habits of self-care. If you are more likely to TMJ pain, prevent chewing gum and break the habit of chewing on fingernails or pens. When symptoms , your target must be to provide your jaw a much-needed rest. This means switching to soft foods, encouraging your jaw with the back of your hands when yawning and relieving strain using a neck support pillow or a rolled towel.

You may lessen the risk of jaw pain everyday by having good posture. When sitting at your desk, ensure your chin doesn't jut forward. If you experience back pain, a chiropractor may have the ability to fix misaligned joints in your spine and pelvis, as well as the TMJ.

Other all-natural alternative treatments for TMJ include acupuncture, which may reduce pain and alleviate stress. Naprapathy is a system of manipulating damaged connective tissue, which may cause structural imbalance in the body that irritates the nervous system and causes pain. This therapy may be a solution if your TMJ is brought on by an injury that has damaged your musculoskeletal alignment.