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Take a Bite Out of Jaw Pain
By Fiona Young-Brown
Patient 1’s lower jaw does not pair
up properly with her upper jaw. In the
winter, extreme cold temperatures
cause pain and stiffness in the joint.
Patient 2’s jaw clicks whenever he
yawns and sometimes when he chews.
Most of the time, it doesn’t bother
him, but occasionally it can be quite
painful.
Patient 3 suffers from recurring
headaches as a result of tension and
pain in her face.
All three of these people are suffering from temporomandibular joint
disorders (TMJ) and while you may
think that the name is a mouthful, the
symptoms and resultant pain can be
very uncomfortable to live with.
The temporomandibular joint is
where the lower jaw (mandible) connects with the temporal bone on the
side of the head. More simply, it is
where our jaws meet. Unlike many
joints in our body which operate in
only one direction — for example the
knee, which is a hinge-type joint —
the temporomandibular joint operates
as both a hinge and a sliding joint. It
is this combination of movement that
allows us to yawn, talk, and chew.
TMJ disorders can arise from
a number of problems. Some
causes include:
• Injury to the jaw or neck
• Repeated grinding or clenching of
the teeth and jaw, perhaps linked
to stress or even something as
simple as regular gum chewing
• Osteoarthritis or rheumatoid
arthritis
• Dislocation of the joint
Sometime TMJ disorders lead to a
popping or clicking of the joint; more
serious cases can cause limited motion
within the jaw, pain upon motion,
headaches, and neck pain.
An estimated 10 million Americans
suffer from TMJ pain at some point,
although some estimate the actual
number to be much higher. The condition seems to affect women more than
men, particularly women in their 30s
and 40s.
If you think you might have TMJ
disorder and are suffering from related
pain and/or difficulties with jaw
movement, you should first see your
dentist or doctor to rule out other
possible causes, such as sinus infection
or an abscess. Once alternatives have
been ruled out, you can work to find
options that may ease your pain.
Mild cases of TMJ pain, for
example, those that are seasonal or
which occur only a few times a year,
can typically be treated by avoiding
certain foods, applying ice or heat
packs as needed, and taking an overthe-counter analgesic, if required. You
may discover that eating certain foods
exacerbates the situation; if so, these
should be avoided when the problem
flares up. For serious cases caused by
grinding or clenching of the jaw, a dentist may recommend a bite guard to
help relax the muscles while sleeping.
Relaxation and gentle stretching exercises are one of the most popular ways
to both ease TMJ pain and to ease
stress which may make the pain worse.
Surgery or orthodontic devices
designed to change the bite should
only be used in very limited circum-
&
15
stances, and only after close consultation with your orthodontist. In most
cases, studies show that
surgery or
changing
the bite
rarely helps
with TMJ;
in fact one
article cites
as many as
46 percent
saying that
invasive treatments worsened
their symptoms.
Many surgeons
agree that surgery
and/or altering
the bite does not
improve the likelihood of a pain free
jaw. Therefore, if
these options are suggested, you should
seek a second opinion
and consider the pros
and cons very carefully before making
a decision. You should also be aware
that at this time, Botox has not been
approved by the FDA for treating TMJ
disorders.
For more information about temporomandibular joint disorders, visit
the TMJ Association at http://www.
tmj.org.
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