Okemos, Lansing, and East Lansing, MI
No two cases of TMJ disorder are the same. Stemming from any problem that causes malfunction of the temporomandibular joint (which connects the jaw to the skull on either side of the head), the specific symptoms of TMJ disorder can vary widely from person to person. One commonality among TMJ disorder patients, however, is experiencing some type of pain—often severe enough to be debilitating and impede your ability to function on a daily basis. At Tenaglia Smiles, your award-winning Okemos dentist Dr. Christine Tenaglia does not want anyone to live in agony. Read on to see her list of natural remedies to manage pain related to TMJ disorder and how the staff at Tenaglia Smiles can help people just like you suffering from TMJ pain.
When it comes to TMJ disorder, it’s all connected
If you have TMJ disorder, you’re likely to experience pain emanating from your jaw joints. However, this ailment also can cause pain in other locations: the face, the mouth, and even the neck, back, and shoulders. People with TMJ disorder also deal with regularly occurring headaches, especially first thing in the morning, which may be misdiagnosed as migraines. Wherever you’re feeling pain, if it’s caused by TMJ disorder, you need to resolve whatever is stressing your jaws in order to alleviate your discomfort.
The following are potential methods of natural pain relief:
- Change your diet – If you begin eating a diet consisting mostly or entirely of soft foods, your jaw doesn’t have to work as hard when you eat. Less chewing means less strain and pressure on your jaw joint and mastication or chewing muscles, providing a chance for any existing inflammation to subside. Try eating a soft diet for several weeks and see if it lessens the pain you’re experiencing. Don’t slack on your nutrition though. Ensure you get enough fruits and veggies by drinking smoothies and eating soup.
- Stress less – One of the major culprits behind TMJ disorder is when someone clenches their jaw repeatedly due to stress. This clenching or grinding, also known as bruxism, may occur when you’re asleep. This habit places extraordinary excess force on your teeth and jaws, potentially throwing your jaws out of alignment and causing TMJ disorder to develop. We live in stressful times right now. Try and manage your stress by taking a walk, starting a journal to express your thoughts and problems, do yoga, meditate, or find what works for you to help you relax.
- Acupuncture – Acupuncture is a method of treatment that inserts needles into an area of the body to relieve pain. Multiple clinical studies have shown acupuncture as a valid therapeutic intervention to help individuals suffering from head and facial pain. Acupuncture also can help relax tense muscles and minimize muscle spasms, which often occurs in patients suffering from TMJ disorder.
- Jaw massage – You also can try massaging your temporomandibular joint several times during the day. This can help to keep the jaw muscles loose and serve as a way to alleviate pain. You also can try to limit any extreme jaw movements, which occur when you yawn, yell, or scream.
- Heat and cold – Alternating heat and cold is a tried-and-true method of therapy for natural pain relief. In cases of jaw pain, you can place a moist heat pack or an ice pack on the affected area for about 15 minutes. Repeat this routine a few times per day. You may have better results alternating between hot and cold packs.
- Oral appliance therapy – When treating TMJ disorder, your dentist is likely to prescribe a specially-made oral appliance. When worn, this device restores the ideal alignment of your jaws, alleviating stress in the temporomandibular joint. At Tenaglia Smiles, we use oral appliances of this type, which are referred to as orthotics or splints.
Treating TMJ Pain in Okemos
Dr. Tenaglia is a practitioner of neuromuscular dentistry. This is a specialization of dental science that entails focusing on the alignment of the bite and jaws. A neuromuscular dentist has the ideal set of qualifications to identify a case of TMJ disorder and then provide relief. In addition to using oral appliances to treat TMJ disorder, Dr. Tenaglia also can use ULF-TENS, which delivers gentle pulses of electricity to relax stressed muscles, increase blood flow, and stimulate the natural production of endorphins. Best of all, both these methods of TMJ pain treatment are drug-free. Remember that every case of TMJ disorder is unique. That means Dr. Tenaglia will come up with an individualized program of treatment that meets your specific needs.
Stop living with the pain of TMJ disorder. Tenaglia Smiles can help. Schedule your appointment today by calling (517) 347-6733 if you live in the areas of Okemos, Lansing, and East Lansing in Michigan.