TMJ Disorder: the one-two punch for finding relief!

Over 30 million Americans suffer from jaw clenching or grinding, known as “Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) Disorder”…are you one of them? TMJ may result in headaches, hearing problems, pain and an inability to fully open the mouth. Interestingly, the disorder of the jaw may or may not be related to the jaw itself, meaning your jaw might be misaligned or might not. All people carry their bodies and their life experiences differently:  for some, these patterns manifest in a tightening of the jaw, whereas for others, they manifest in stomach ulcers or back pain. These symptoms can be frustrating and confusing, leaving TMJ sufferers wondering where to turn for relief.

Where the mind leads the body will follow

One of the main causes of TMJ disorder is good, old-fashioned stress! There are pros and cons to this truth. While stressors are everywhere and affect many aspects of our lives, the good news is that many causes of stress can be eliminated or reduced at little or no financial cost to you. Remedies such as yoga, deep breathing, and meditation are tried and true methods of calming the mind and the body. For TMJ sufferers, however, more attention may be required to find long-term relief.

Get some help from a qualified dentist

Visiting your dentist is a good place to start if you experience many of these symptoms: clicking or popping of the joint, spontaneous dislocation, tender jaw muscles, limited range of motion, dull or aching pain in front of the ear and headaches. Dentists are able to diagnosis the severity of your disorder as well as recommend an appropriate course of treatment. Dr. Heather Billington of Billington Family Dentistry in Ballston Spa had this say:  “There are many contributing factors to TMJ disorders. Once you have a diagnosis, decisions can be made about what treatment modality would be most effective for your particular case.  These treatments may include management with medications, wearing an appliance such as a night guard, stress management therapies including psychotherapy, jaw exercises and massage therapy.”

Punch #1

Getting those tight jar muscles to release is a challenging job and can be greatly expedited by seeing a professional massage therapist. While overall relaxation can be extremely helpful with helping your jaw unclench, an experienced medical massage therapist will also be able to target those muscles of the face, neck and back to give specific relief to the jaw area. Your massage therapist will take into account your lifestyle, medical history, and tension habits before developing a treatment plan to increase jaw motion and correct the problem areas. About the benefits of massage therapy on TMJ disorder, Dr. Billington stated: “Massage therapy can be very effective as part of a treatment plan to manage TMJ disorders.  By providing general stress relief and by targeting the specific muscles involved in the TMJ disorder, massage therapy is helping many of our patients obtain relief from their symptoms.”

Punch #2

Supplementing your dentist’s recommendations and massage therapy with regular home self-massage can take your relief to the next level. Here are some tips for continuing your solo care:

1. Focus on the round muscle above the ear and the square muscle on the cheek. Do small, circular motions in a three-inch area using your fingertips.
2. Don’t use too much pressure if the muscle is really sore. You can also try pressing on the sore area for 20 seconds instead of rubbing it.
3. You may feel a sensation into other areas of your face as you press – this is a good indication that you have hit the correct spot. It is caused by trigger points (a place that’s knotted and severely irritated) in the muscle.
4. Continue for about 2-3 minutes making sure you get the whole muscle.
5. If your pain is two-sided, work on one side first then the other.
6. Remember to breathe deeply and calmly as you work.  Your relaxation will help the muscles relax.
7. Follow up your self-massage session with an arnica cream or gel to help relieve inflammation, available at your local health-food store.  Apply a pea-sized amount over the jaw line and up to the ears, covering the muscle’s area.

With a combination of traditional medicine, alternative medicine and self-care, the symptoms of TMJ disorder can be greatly reduced and even eliminated. A dentist can supervise a course of treatment and massage therapy with arnica can reduce pain, swelling, muscle tension.  As a public service, Belisama offers free advice and consultation for TMJ disorder sufferers; please call 518-248-0090 for more information. Be well.

Dr.’s Heather and Dan Billington, DDS, can be found at Billington Family Dentistry, 2911 Route 9, Ballston Spa, NY 12020, 518.580.8800.