TMJ syndrome affects over 10
million people in the USA alone. The name TMJ means temporomandibular joint syndrome because the condition involves that
joint not working properly. It produces pain in the jaw joints and muscles and the pain
can feel like it is all over the face and even the neck and shoulders. The person may have problems
both opening and closing their mouth. Other symptoms may include: dizzy, pressure
behind eyes, ringing in the ears,
earache, and clicking or grinding when chewing. The most common
causes of TMJ syndrome is
stress. People with
hypoglycemia are more vulnerable to having TMJ
syndrome due to when their blood sugar is low they tend to clench or grind their teeth. A
good diet and proper nutritional supplements are very valuable for TMJ and often solve the
problem.
Over10 million people in the USA suffer from TMJ or temporomandibular joint
syndrome, a condition in which
the temporomandibular joint does not function correctly. This joint
connects the temporal bone which is the bone that
forms the sides of the skull with the jawbone.
This painful affliction produces pain in the muscles and
joints of the jaw that sometimes radiates to the face, neck,
and shoulder. There may also be difficulty opening the mouth
all the way, and clicking, grinding, and popping noises may
occur during chewing and movement of the joint. Headaches,
toothaches, dizziness, feelings of pain and pressure behind
the eyes, pain and ringing in the ears, and difficulty opening
and closing the jaw normally are other possible symptoms.
The jaw joint is embedded in an intricate web of nerves and
muscle. The force of normal chewing and of
clenching or gritting the teeth creates great tension and
pressure in that area of the face. The cartilage disk that
cushions the joint may become displaced or wear out. This
causes the bones of the temporomandibular joint to rub against
one another, rather than gliding smoothly past each other. In
some instances, a misalignment of the jaw and teeth prevents
smooth operation of the joint. The most common underlying
causes of TMJ are stress and a poor bite, together with
clenching and grinding of the teeth also known as bruxism, especially
while sleeping at
night. TMJ can also be caused by bad posture, habits such as
cradling the telephone between the shoulder and jaw, repeated
or hard blows to the jaw or chin, or even whiplash. Poor dental
work and orthodontia may make the problem worse, as can habits
such as gum chewing, thumb-sucking, and chewing exclusively on
one side of the mouth. A common contributing factor is
hypoglycemia; people tend to clench and grind their teeth more
when their blood sugar is low. To diagnose TMJ, a doctor may use x-rays and a technique called arthrography, in which
an opaque dye is injected into the joint and then viewed with
fluoroscopy. A correct diet and the proper supplements,
possibly in conjunction with other treatment, are valuable for
TMJ and often solve the problem as well as related health
issues as well.
Nutrient /
Supplement |
Importance
( 1 - 10 ) |
Helpful notes |
Coenzyme Q10 |
9 |
increases tissue
oxygenation in the body |
Multi-vitamin
and
Mineral supplement |
10 |
contains B
vitamins, vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, zinc, and folic acid, which all
aid in
both the treatment and prevention of TMJ
syndrome. The nutrients contained in a daily supplement are
required for good general health and well being. |
Pantothenic
acid |
9 |
vitamin B5 is good for
stress |
Aloe
vera |
9 |
herb
that helps
with stress, inflammation, and sleep problems. It promotes healing and
is often mixed with the herbs passionflower, kava kava, and
chamomile. |
Kava
kava |
9 |
herb
with calming and anti-stress help |
Passionflower |
9 |
herb
often used with kava kava and aloe vera. |
Calcium |
10 |
this mineral is needed
for good
muscular function. It has a calming effect on the human body and
is needed for good dental health. Often is used to relieve stress |
Magnesium |
10 |
this mineral works with calcium |
B
Vitamins |
9 |
called the anti-stress
vitamins is actually a family of vitamins that aids in healing
stress related disorders. |
vitamin
C |
8 |
boosts the
immune system |
Bioflavonoids |
8 |
aids with stress and
work with vitamin C |
Zinc |
8 |
this
mineral improves
immune system function. It works well when combined with calcium
and magnesium |
TMJ SELF-TEST
Place your little fingers in your ears so that hearing is
obstructed. Then slowly and steadily open and close your jaw.
If at any point you hear a clicking, popping, and/or grinding
noise, the jaw joints may be out of alignment, and examination
by a professional experienced in diagnosing and treating TMJ
is advisable.
Other Changes To Make
-
drink 6-8 glasses of steam distilled or
filtered water a day
-
eat 50% raw fruits and vegetables (organic is best)
-
nuts, seeds, and whole grains are good
-
juice is good (make your
own with a juice machine)
-
do not worry as much about calories as eating the right foods
-
carrot and celery sticks are good to use as a snack
-
a colon cleansing can be very helpful - (do several times each year)
-
do not drink coffee, alcohol, soda pop, other junk food drinks
-
do not eat processed foods white sugar, white flour, etc...
-
use stress relief like going for walks in the park
(or the 10/90 rule - see
Stress)
-
brown rice is good to eat
-
avoid red meat and animal fats
-
reduce dairy products cheese, milk, and others
-
fast a few days a month
-
get at least 8 hours of sleep
-
exercise light to moderate amounts
-
avoid artificial sweeteners like Aspartame and NutraSweet
-
do not smoke and avoid second hand smoke
-
do not skip meals - just eat better and not as much at each meal
-
do not chew gum - it can cause you to feel hungry
-
do not watch too much TV try reading a book or something else
|