Dental patient gets TMJ cure of his TMJ symptoms. He tells how Dr. Peter DeRose of DeRose Dental Arts performed treatment to give him TMJ relief. Dr. Peter DeRose is one of a handful of Buffalo Dentists who is a TMJ Doctor. The patient, Jason, received jaw treatment to relieve his jaw pain as well as other symptoms.

TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder) refers to the conditions that cause discomfort and pain in the joint that connects the jaw, as well as the individual muscles that control the movement of the jaw. It is a painful and annoying disorder that afflicts a large number of people. In fact according to recent statistics, it is estimated that there are as many as 10 million people who suffer from some form of TMJ.
With such significant numbers affected by the condition, it would seem logical that there would be widespread concern over it. However in reality, many people who have TMJ may not take the condition as seriously as they should because the pain associated with it may start out being relatively minor. Additionally, many people who suffer from TMJ find that the disorder goes away on its own through a natural healing process. These factors have combined to make the general level of concern regarding the condition quite low.
This is not to suggest that all instances of temporomandibular joint dysfunction are minor, however. There are numerous people who suffer from a chronic and debilitating pain that derives from this condition, and that does not go away. In these cases, patients must seek proper medical help in order to treat the condition and alleviate the pain.
Naturally, the types of treatments available may raise some concerns because of fears that they may prove complex or invasive. However while there are indeed invasive means of dealing with TMJ, there are also a number of simpler treatments that are just as effective in many cases. Ultimately, the type of treatment that is used can vary from one individual to another based on the particular characteristics of their condition.
So what exactly does TMJ affect? The temporomandibular joint is what connects the lower jaw (also known as the mandible) to the temporal bone. These joints are what allow the jaw to move and this in turn affects one’s ability talk, eat and even hear properly. In order to perform these various functions, the jaw joint must move properly and without restriction. So, when TMJ sets in and restricts this basic movement, it becomes very painful and makes seeking effective treatment essential to continuing on with daily life activities.
Probably the most common way of dealing with this condition is to use a stabilization splint or “bite guard.” Essentially, this is an item that fits over the upper and lower teeth and stabilizes the jaw so that the condition either corrects itself through the natural healing process, or at least reduces the amount of pain to a bearable level. This item cannot be purchase over the counter as it must be prescribed and fitted by a qualified doctor or dentist.
Another treatment option that has become more and more popular in recent years deals with TMJ exercises designed to strengthen the jaw and tongue muscles and re-align the jaw naturally. Results from this method have been astonishingly successful and this is now thought to be the first treatment method one should try if one has been diagnosed with TMJ. This is especially attractive since the cost to do these exercises is zero, the convenience of treatment at home is enormous, and the cure rate is high.

TMJ can be incredibly painful and add stress to the upper body causing headaches, severe jaw pain and much more. This leads to a lack of sleep and can be really frustrating to a sufferer. In this article I’ll share my top 3 TMJ exercises that have helped me along the way.

1. Stand in front of a mirror and slowly open and close your mouth. Many TMJ sufferers will notice that your jaw will open on one side first, as if it were opening crooked. This is a major cause of TMJ. Practices slowly opening and closing your mouth, but focus on making it open evenly. Doing this will pump blood up into the jaw muscles and relieve some pain. Do this 10 times, 3 times per day. Over time this will also help to “cure” your TMJ.

2. Left and right movement. Stand in front of your mirror and make a fist. Place the fist on the left side of your jaw. Push your jaw to the side until you feel it pull. Hold for 4 seconds and repeat 4 times, 3 times per day. Do the same for the right side of the jaw. This will stretch out those tense muscles and you’ll begin to regain movement.

3. The Dixie cup. While this isn’t exactly a TMJ exercise, this is more of a pain relief technique. Get a Dixie cup and fill it with water ¼ of the way full. Place in freezer. Once frozen place the bottom of the Dixie cup on your TMJ joint and move in a circular movement. This will numb the joint relieving some pain, while working and massaging the sore joint muscles at the same time.

I hope you find some relief with the TMJ exercises above. As a sufferer myself I’ve used these and they each work great. I’ve got many more TMJ exercises that I’ll be sharing with you in the near future

It is estimated that over 10 million people in the U.S. suffer from TMJ. Surprisingly, research shows that 90% of those who suffer from this condition are women in their childbearing years.
TMJ is a complicated disease. It is often misunderstood and even more often misdiagnosed. Those who suffer from it experience symptoms ranging from simple joint pain to severe headaches. The disease is progressive and will get worse over time if not properly treated. Left untreated TMJ can affect the ability to speak, eat and chew, swallow, make normal facial expressions and even breathe.
The pain from TMJ can be quite intense. Either or both sides of the face can be affected. In addition to the pain, the condition causes clicking or popping sounds when the jaw is opened. Eventually the jaw may completely lock up.
It is very difficult to get the proper treatment for TMJ. Neither the ADA (American Dental Association) nor the AMA (American Medical Association) recognize the treatment of TMJ as a specialty. There is no standard of treatment set by either of these associations and the condition is not studied in either dental or medical schools. Because of this lack of a specific recognized treatment most health and dental insurance carriers refuse to pay for diagnosis and treatment of the condition.
TMJ is often treated using uncomfortable orthodontic devices. The goal is to reposition the lower jaw using appliances that decompress the joint. If this procedure is not successful, and it can take a year or more to determine if it will be successful, the next step is surgery. An oral and maxillofacial surgeon will literally break the jaw and rearrange it. A hospitalization of 2 to 4 days is required. In the past patients jaws were wired shut for weeks but new techniques now use stabilization appliances and most patients can open their mouths within 24 to 72 hours after surgery.
There is new hope for TMJ suffers. Before submitting to the pain and expense of dental implants and devices or surgery with long recovery time, consider that TMJ can be controlled or even cured using some simple programs.
Completely natural programs which teach a series of targeted exercises of the face, jaw and neck muscles have been found by many TMJ suffers to give complete relief. In comparison to the medical alternatives, which are both painful and expensive, TMJ suffers should consider this holistic approach. Many find relief for their condition almost immediately. No drugs, no devices and no surgery.

Having a TMJ condition is not something to laugh about. It can be both a painful experience and an inconvenient one. It is therefore of the greatest importance to zero in on the best TMJ cure.

Controversy with Cure

There has been a lot of patient frustration over TMJ cure solutions. Some patients may experience a worsening of symptoms or a simple lack of relief. There may be several reasons why a TMJ cure may not work for some individuals. It is possible that the cure is poorly or improperly applied or the wrong TMJ cure is resorted to. In some cases, a TMJ condition may be misdiagnosed. In such a situation, wrong medication and treatment may even result in complications.

Ask Experts

Sometimes a TMJ condition may be misdiagnosed because the doctor you consulted is not an expert in TMJ. There are also some experts in TMJ conditions that only provide cures that are limited to their specific area of expertise. This may not work for some people if the particular cause of the TMJ condition does not fit the TMJ cure.

One way to ensure that you are getting the right TMJ cure is to get a good doctor. It would probably be to your benefit if you got a highly recommended doctor with a good track record. It would also help if you got second and third medical opinions before deciding to stick with just one particular TMJ cure.

Non-Invasive Solutions First

Your personal rule of thumb in your search for a TMJ cure is to go for non-invasive procedures first. It is quite possible that your condition may require extreme medical solutions like surgery and heavy medication. You should however make sure that your condition is really so severe that no other solution but an invasive one will work. One way of determining the severity of your condition is to simply try non-invasive solutions. When no safe natural solution works, then that is the time when you should consider further medical assistance. It is important to do this because some invasive and drastic procedures may be irreversible and may cause further damage if ineffective.

Possible Non-Invasive Solutions

There are several non-invasive solutions that you could try. As mentioned though, not all of these solutions can be a TMJ cure that will work for you. They are however worth considering if you want to protect yourself from the possible effects of invasive procedures.

Exercise – Gentle massage and jaw exercises might relieve your TMJ condition. There are actually some specific exercises to follow but the basic one simply involves gently and comfortably opening and closing your mouth and moving your jaws from side to side.

Food – A soft diet or avoiding foods that are too hard may also be a TMJ cure. Avoid overusing your jaws by frequently chewing gum.

Manage Stress – It is possible that your TMJ condition may be stress induced. If this is the case, you can try stress reduction classes or simply teach yourself to relax during stressful situations.