Wrest Oral Pain, Stress From Your Life!

Stress and its effects are too often the cause of oral pain and dental health decline. Whether it's frequent "resting your head in hands" stress, ongoing discomfort or severe pain, your oral health could be at risk.

In February 2009, Time Magazine's online journal published an article, which observed that due to the many stressors in society many people have chosen to forego basic dental care. Minor dental conditions are turning into major problems, leaving these people with few options. These stress inducing factors include the economy, declining job markets, and unexpected lifestyle adjustments.

With these disruptions occurring in Tennessee as well, Dental Specialty Group team members have also noticed a big increase in patients with jaw pain (Temporal Mandibular Joint disorder). Using this information you can be rest assured about your options.

Our Oral Surgeons & Team Have Observed:

1. Patients suffering from TMJ are usually under increased stress brought about by moving, change in lifestyle, change in family size, job loss
2. Many have a habit of grinding their teeth in their sleep (bruxism) or clenching while driving or concentrating
3. Many worry more than most about their situations and suffer from depression or an anxiety disorder
4. A smaller number of people have problems since birth or development, which leads to TMJ problems over time

Typically, patients have been suffering for a long time, which means immediate relief may not always be possible. Additionally, we need to rule out other causes that could be confused with TMJ pain such as ear infection, erupting wisdom teeth, and uneven bite (malocclusion), before we focus on the jaw joint.

As oral surgeons, our goal is to help the patient understand their stressors, and along with other care providers, work to achieve a lasting, pain free result. Some, under the care of psychiatrists, may already be under medication to alleviate anxiety or depression. What we know is that depressed patients fare better while on anti-depressants and respond better to TMJ treatment than when depression or anxiety is left untreated.

After ruling out other causes of pain, we suggest the following to assist in reducing TMJ pain and personal stress. We cannot change what we are unaware of. Each of us needs to take personal responsibility for dealing with frustrating circumstances and situations. Taking quiet time. Reflecting on our habits and our challenges, physical and emotional, can tell us a lot about ourselves.

Helpful Tips for TMJ & Oral Health

1. Make sure your bite is well balanced: your teeth should meet together without pain and touch (contact) each other evenly. If you have multiple missing teeth, positive benefits can come from repairing your bite using dentures, bridges or implant replacements.
2. If your wisdom teeth are impacted, removing them will take away what is causing your pain.
3. Avoid clenching teeth while concentrating. Merely, being mindful of your body habits can help you avoid the pain and pitfalls created by this strain on your jaw and facial muscles. Simply stopping the back teeth from making contact prevents clenching. Ending this painful habit can also prevent fractures of good teeth, which would result in bigger problems.
4. A no-chew diet (soft foods that don't require chewing) will help rest a painful joint. While it is difficult for most of us to "rest our mouths" like this for the several weeks needed to have any effect, it does provide positive, real life benefits.
5. A good night's rest is vital – how one sleeps (your posture during rest) can affect the way you feel – from your toes to your head – all day long.

While these healthful tips are not a comprehensive cure for TMJ problems, there are a great way to start reducing the aches and pains caused by stress. Rather than resting your head in your hands at the end of the each day, wrest control of your life and well being with better dental and overall health habits.

Contact one of our Oral Surgery specialist offices: Nashville, TN - Cookeville, TN 

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