Click Here to Discover How to Permanently Reverse the Root Cause of TMJ |
The
temporomandibular joint disorder, called
the TMJ in short, is a fairly common disorder of the jaw which affects nearly
sixty million people in the American population. People who suffer from this
condition are likely to experience pain that may be temporary but may also last
for at least a few years.
For
those who are affected with this problem, it is important to understand what
causes TMJ disorder in order to treat it. It can't
be stated for certain exactly what causes TMJ disorder, although there are some
standard contributing factors. These factors can be categorized into the
following groups:
Cause
of TMJ Disorders #1 - Dental issues: TMJ disorder is most commonly caused as a
result of derangement of the jaws. This is a condition known as
"malocclusion" wherein your teeth are no longer able to fit together
the way they are supposed to. This condition can be a result of situations such
as ill-fitting dentures, tooth removal or any minor or major dental surgery,
missing teeth, advent of pre molars and growth of wisdom teeth.
Cause
of TMJ Disorders #2 - Trauma: About 99% of TMJ sufferers claim that their
condition was a result of some sort of trauma or injury. Even minor blows on
the head, face or jaw can result in trauma. Whiplash and traction appliances
used in whiplash injuries or problems like ill-fitting braces can also prove to
be contributing factors.
Cause
of TMJ Disorders #3 - Habits: Some of the things we unwittingly do in our daily
lives result in TMJ disorder. A common cause is bruxism, or the habit of
continually clenching one's teeth. Bruxism puts undue pressure on the teeth and
jaw resulting in the damage of cartilage and ligaments in the TMJ area. Other
bad habits include chewing on pens/pencils, biting fingernails, chronic gum
chewing and bad postures that put pressure on your face and jaw, such as,
sleeping on your stomach and holding the phone on your shoulder.
Cause
of TMJ Disorders #4 - Social situations: Stress has been known to cause tension in
the muscles. Prolonged tightening of the muscles affects the TM Joint by
putting enormous pressure on it. Eventually the tense muscles tend to shorten
and result in misalignment. Social situations like family problems, financial
issues, legal hassles and health concerns are stress inducers and must be dealt
with.
Cause
of TMJ Disorders #5 - Emotions: Emotional upheavals resulting from depression, anxiety, fear or anger have
adverse affects that can negatively affect your whole body including the TM
Joint.
Certain simple precautions should be kept in mind in order to prevent a TMJ disorder. For instance, although yawning is a reflex action, one must take care to not open one's mouth fully but partially while yawning. Similarly, excessive chewing of bubble gum, habits like biting nails or chewing on pencils must be avoided at all costs. As the TM joint facilitates essential activities like talking, chewing and swallowing, it is important to take care of it.
Since the causes of TMJ disorder are so varied, the approach to treating it should also be multi-dimensional. There is a wide variety of treatment available for the condition, ranging from simple exercises to complicated corrective surgeries. However, if you are looking for a permanent solution to your problem, it is best to adopt a holistic approach.
In treating the condition
holistically, you strengthen your body and equip it to heal all by itself. Not
only can your body recover from the ailment; it can also prevent future
occurrences of it.
In the case of TMJ disorder
therefore, combining relaxation therapies, which would help reduce stress, with
jaw exercises, such as controlled TMJ rotation, and working on body postures
that affect the head and neck, would provide a wholesome remedy for TMJ
disorder. Only through holistic treatment can your body be restored to a state
of well-being.
This article is based on the book, "TMJ No More" by Sandra Carter. Sandra is an author, researcher, nutritionist and health consultant who dedicated her life to creating the ultimate TMJ disorders solution guaranteed to permanently reverse the root cause of TMJ and dramatically improve the overall quality of your life, without the use prescription medication and without any surgical procedures. Learn more by visiting her website - TMJ No More
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