TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT DISORDER (TMD)

Your jaw is hinged to the skull with two joints called the temporomandibular joints. As you would expect, these joints are nearly in perpetual motion. Every time you talk, chew gum, eat a sandwich, or even tense your jaw, these joints are hard at work. Over time this can lead to sore muscles, headaches, or even damaged cartilage or bone in the joints themselves. Doctors call this temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMD.

TMD can be excruciatingly painful, but in most cases it can be treated in the same way you would treat any other joint condition. Here’s how.

Start with aspirin. Along with ibuprofen, aspirin is one of the best things you can take for the pain of TMD. It quickly reduces the swelling and also helps to block the production of chemicals in the body that are responsible for causing pain.

Give your jaw a break. When your jaw is aching you need to give it a rest. Talk as little as possible and try to avoid foods that require a lot of chewing. You should also retire the gum, since chewing gum can put an enormous strain on the joints in the jaw.

Hand up on bad phone habits. You wouldn’t think that how you hold the phone could affect your jaw, but it does. Doctors have found that people who cradle the telephone between their shoulders and ears while their hands are busy may have problems with TMD.

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WHEN TO SEE THE DOCTOR
Some people with TMD experience so much pain they can barely open their
mouths. If left untreated, severe TMD can literally destroy the jaw joints. So it
is critical to call your doctor if you’re having jaw pain that’s severe or seems to
be getting worse. You also should get help if you’re hearing loud popping or
grinding sounds when you move you jaw.
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Rest your shoulders. Here’s another unexpected cause of TMD: carrying a heavy handbag. Women who tend to carry purses or briefcases with the strap over a shoulder may be throwing their posture out of alignment, which, strangely, can lead to jaw problems later on. If you can, switch to a lighter handbag, or at least alternate shoulders when you’re carrying your purse around.

Cool it down. For temporary flare-ups of TMD, applying a cold pack or some ice cubes wrapped in a towel can be very soothing. If ice isn’t nice, you may want to try applying a hot water bottle or a warm-towel compress instead.

Watch those stressful habits. When stress levels rise our mouths go to work – chewing pens, fingernails, or gum. But when you have TMD, all that jaw action will only make the problem worse. There isn’t as easy solution for stress, of course, but you may want to find some other way of working off the tension – one that doesn’t involve moving your jaw. The best tension reducer? Exercise. The more you move your body, the less stress you’ll feel.