July 16th, 2010 amogell
There are many causes for temporomandibular joint dysfunction and, treatment for the disorder will vary for each individual. Until you can visit your neuromuscular dentist for diagnosis and treatment here are some ideas to help relieve your discomfort.
- Do NOT chew gum.
- Apply cold packs. Apply an ice pack to the side of your face for 10 minutes (wrap in a towel to protect your skin). Reapply after 20-30 minutes.
- Eat a soft diet. Stick to soft foods such as yogurt, mashed potatoes, cottage cheese, scrambled eggs and soup. The idea is to rest your jaw muscles as much as possible. Don’t eat hard, crunchy foods like raw carrots, pretzels or really chewy foods.
- Avoid opening your mouth too wide. Try to keep your mouth movements small when you yawn. Do not order the overstuffed sandwich or the double bacon cheeseburger. You will be more comfortable if you avoid extreme jaw movement.
- Hold the Phone. This means hold it with your hand, not between your ear and shoulder.
- Don’t Rest Your Chin - Do you rest your chin on your hand? Time to stop. Also, check your pillow position at night – find a comfortable position that doesn’t place pressure on your face or jaw.
- Lips Together, Teeth Apart – Practice keeping your teeth slightly apart to help avoid unconscious clenching or grinding of your teeth during the day.
- Try Over The Counter Medications. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofin (Advil, Motrin, etc.) can be purchased at your local retailer. Follow the dosing directions carefully and remember to always have food in your stomach before you take these medications (see #3 above) because they can injure your stomach lining.
Hopefully these tips will help alleviate some of the pain, headaches and other symptoms you are experiencing until your appointment. They are not a treatment for temporomandibular joint dysfunction and will not replace a visit to your neuromuscular dentist. Proper diagnosis and treatment of your individual case is necessary to avoid further damage to the jaw joint.
In Gahanna, Ohio please contact Dr. Mark Levy today at 614-476-6696 to schedule your consultation. Relief from the pain and headaches associated with TMD are only a phone call away.
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July 14th, 2010 amogell
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is your jaw joint. It is the hinge that connects your lower jaw to the upper part ofour skull. The joint is extremely complex and flexible allowing movement both up and down and side to side. This allows us to talk, chew, yawn with a wide range of motion. The muscles surrounding the joint control the movement and position of the jaw.
A temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) is a problem with the jaw joint and surrounding muscles. Symptoms of TMD include:
- Pain or tenderness in the jaw, face, neck or shoulders
- Limited range of opening the mouth
- Clicking or popping noises in the jaw
- Difficulty or discomfort chewing
- Headaches or migraines
- Swelling in the jaw area
- Dizziness
- Tinnitus or ringing in the ears or a feeling of “fullness” in the ears
- Ear aches
- Toothaches
With so many varied symptoms it is not unusual for patients to visit many different specialists and undergo many tests before finally being diagnosed correctly.
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above you may be suffering from TMD. An experienced neuromuscular dentist can perform a clinical examination to determine whether or not your jaw joint is the cause of your symptoms. Treatment options for TMD will vary by patient depending upon the severity of the problem and the underlying cause. I will discuss some basic, conservative self-care techniques in my next blog. While these techniques will not replace proper treatment they may make you more comfortable until your appointment.
TMD problems do not typically “go away” and putting off treatment may only make the problem worse. Please contact my Columbus, Ohio neuromuscular dental office today at 614-476-6696 to schedule a consultation.
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April 15th, 2010 amogell
The cause of many headache episodes is not always the dreaded “migraine”. Often headache patients have spent years going from doctor to doctor trying to find a cure for their pain. The answer for many of these headache sufferers can be proper diagnosis and treatment for their temporomandibular joint disorder, commonly known as TMJ or TMD.
The temporomandibular joint is one of the most complicated structures in the human body. Damage can be caused by accidents, poor bite or often because of teeth grinding due to stress. The Mayo Clinic estimates that 5 to 15 percent of Americans suffer from some type of pain connected with TMJ disorders.
Symptoms often include blinding headaches. Patients may have facial or jaw pain, clicking noises in the jaw joint or a feeling of “fullness” in the ears or tinnitus (ringing in the ears). Each patient may have a different combination of symptoms – or only one.
Proper diagnosis by a trained neuromuscular dentist is an important first step. A neuromuscular dentist has been specially trained to diagnose and treat injuries to the temporomandibular joint and its surrounding muscles – a subject that is not studied in depth by most general dentists.
Treatment options vary for each individual but a common and highly effective treatment involves the creation of a custom orthotic appliance. This appliance is normally worn at night and allows your jaw muscles to stay in their most relaxed position.
If headaches are inpacting your life contact Dr. Mark Levy today at 614-454-3488 in the Columbus, Ohio area.
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March 6th, 2010 amogell
Neuromuscular Dentistry – Stress and Teeth Grinding
COLUMBUS, OH – These are stressful times – and people exhibit this stress in different ways. One of the most common is clenching and grinding your teeth. This is called bruxism and most patients never realize that they are grinding their teeth until it causes painful problems.
Should you be concerned that you might be grinding your teeth? Absolutely! The act of bruxism can literally chew away the enamel on your teeth. The American Dental Association (ADA) states that up to 50% of the American population has experienced some form of bruxism or teeth grinding at some point in their lives. Most often, this grinding occurs at night while asleep which is why patients don’t know they have the problem.
There are some signs to look for:
- Do you wake up with sore jaws or jaw joints?
- Do you wake up with headaches?
- Have you experienced tooth breakage?
You might also ask your spouse or a friend to take note to see if you are clenching or grinding your teeth while sleeping. Chronic bruxism can lead to dental problems and even temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ). A trained neuromuscular dentist can help with bruxism. By wearing a specially designed orthotic appliance while you sleep you can protect your teeth and jaw joints from damage.
If you are showing symptoms of bruxism or have questions about this common problem and how neuromuscular dentistry can help, please contact Dr. Mark Levy at 614-454-3488.
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