TMJ Help Program

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, or TMJ as it is more commonly known, is a medical condition that involves a misalignment of the jaw joint and inflammation in the muscles that control it. It can be very painful and can lead to a host of other medical problems that may or may not involve the facial area of the body.

TMJ is best avoided. Once it is diagnosed, it is almost impossible to cure. The best treatment for TMJ that doctors have found so far involves only treating the symptoms, not curing it. Only in very severe cases of TMJ is surgery recommended as an option. This is because it can be very difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of the condition, let alone know how to cure TMJ, as each case will present just a little differently than the last one.

There are several suspected causes for TMJ, including teeth grinding or clenching and traumatic injuries, such as can be suffered during sports or automobile accidents.

Avoiding TMJ that is caused by teeth grinding or clenching is actually very simple if you know that both seem to have their origin in stress related factors.

One way to avoid teeth grinding or clenching and the damage it can cause is through the use of an orthotic provided by the dentist. An orthotic is an implant or mouth guard that will not stop you from clenching or grinding your teeth, but will cushion your jaw and teeth when you do. This will reduce the chances of compromising the integrity of your teeth by grinding them or creating tension in the jaw when you clench it.

Another option that is often recommended by physicians who have diagnosed a case of TMJ that is caused by stress is the use of TMJ relaxation techniques and exercises. People who suffer from stress related TMJ often grind their teeth or clench their jaw when they get stressed. They will also often find that they have a lot of tension in their neck and shoulder muscles.

Teaching these people breathing exercises and methods of relaxation can help them to avoid frequent TMJ episodes. Relaxation techniques include, but are not limited to breathing exercises, stretching exercises and strengthening exercises. Stretching and strengthening exercises are prescribed for the jaw, the tongue, the throat, the neck and shoulder, and the back.

Learning to stretch these muscle groups and strengthening them by exercising them can help you to avoid injury to the jaw as the muscles in the jaw joint will be much harder to misalign and damage.
Many people who have TMJ have utilized these relaxation techniques and stretching exercises to help them to relief for TMJ symptoms and reduce the number of significant TMJ episodes that they experience.

It only stands to reason that practicing the same relaxation techniques and TMJ stretching exercises prior to the onset of any TMJ symptoms or problems can help you to avoid any future diagnoses of the condition.