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If you are diagnosed with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, you know that even simple everyday activities can be challenging. This is because of the pain and discomfort this condition brings. Mundane activities such as eating, talking, toothbrushing, and even drinking can all be too difficult and painful. You may need to find a TMJ relief in Asheville that works to get some normalcy back into your life.
While there is no one-size-fits-all solution for TMJ disorder, there are certain things you can do - and not do - to ease your symptoms. Sometimes you are unaware of how some activities can worsen your condition. If you're experiencing signs of TMJ disorder, with or without a diagnosis, perhaps it's best to reduce or avoid these things until you find a TMJ relief in Asheville that best suit your needs.
Chewing gum can make you overuse your jaw muscles and worsen your TMJ symptoms. In addition, the constant chewing motion can aggravate your jaw and worsen your pain. If you must chew gum, avoid chewing it for long periods, especially when it's getting too chewy, or doing it too vigorously.
TMJ disorder makes chewing painful because of the pressure and tension it brings to your jaws. Eating hard food puts more tension in your jaws to bite at the food. This can make TMJ pain worse and eating a lot more painful.
Some people have a habit of biting their fingernails whenever they feel stressed or bored. But bad habits like nail biting or chewing the end of the pen or pencil and other mannerisms can contribute to and aggravate your TMJ issues.
Stomach sleepers are not only prone to neck pain but TMJ pain as well. This sleeping position tends to make you turn to the side for extended periods, which puts considerable tension and pressure on your neck and can eventually transfer to your jaw. Imagine putting this tension on your neck and jaw every night while you're in between your efforts for TMJ relief in Asheville; it can be counterproductive and worsen your TMJ disorder.
Sitting for long periods, whether at work or home, can make you engage in poor posture. Poor posture brings stress to your neck and can eventually affect your jaw. Remember to maintain a good posture and avoid slouching when sitting or standing. When you need to sit for a long time, use a lumbar support cushion for your low back to prevent back and neck pain.
Bad posture makes your back and shoulders round forward, which tends to bring your head forward and extended in front of the body, which can bring you more tension and pressure in the jaw.
There are home remedies and other habits you can explore to help manage your TMJ disorder. Here are some things you can try that are proven effective:
Rubbing the muscles involved in moving your face and jaw gently can help ease the pain and relieve tension in the jaw area. Using your index and middle fingers, you can apply small and gentle circular motions. You can also massage the muscles on the inside of your mouth. To help relieve pain and reduce tension, you can slowly rub the muscles on the back and sides of your neck.
Being a back or side sleeper can help ease the pressure and stress on your temporomandibular joints. These positions also keep your neck in a neutral position compared to sleeping on your stomach.
Taking a few minutes each day to relax your face, scalp, jaw, and neck can help eliminate your stress and tension, especially in the parts you're focused on.
Apart from gentle massage, you can try exercises to encourage increased blood flow to your jaw area. This can also help improve your range of motion, an issue that TMJ disorder patients experience. You can ask your healthcare provider or watch videos on Youtube on the best jaw exercises to try. If you want to try something new, it's best to consult with a healthcare provider.
If you want to explore lasting TMJ relief in Asheville, you may explore upper cervical care. This chiropractic care focuses on your spine's topmost bones, consisting of your atlas and axis located in the neck area. These bones located in your neck area support the head and are in very close proximity to your temporomandibular joint.
If these bones shift out of alignment, it can affect your jaw's resting position and alignment. Misalignments in these bones can interfere with nerve function and cause all sorts of problems, including headaches and TMJ pain. Correcting the misalignment can relieve the pain and discomfort on your TMJ.
If TMJ pain has been bothering you or interfering with your life and daily routine, upper cervical care can help. First, have your spine alignment checked and assessed to see if it's contributing to your TMJ pain. Dr. David Nygaard of Atlas Brain and Body has been helping patients with TMJ disorder find lasting relief and improve their quality of life.
By correcting misalignments in the top bones of the neck—the C1 and C2 vertebrae, the pressure that reaches your joints, including temporomandibular joints, gets relieved. Slowly your body will heal naturally, and you will notice that your symptoms will start to disappear.
You don't have to endure TMJ pain and discomfort. Reach out to Dr. Nygaard and see if upper cervical care is right for you. Book your appointment by calling 828-253-0700 or using our online contact form. Let us help you!
To schedule a consultation with Dr. Nygaard, call our Asheville office at 828-253-0700. You can also click the button below.
If you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
