Your mouth is a structure of interconnecting joints, teeth, and bones that make eating, speaking, and smiling possible. When you experience pain within this particular region, you cannot deny the fact that your quality of life is compromised. After several consultations, it was discovered that you are suffering from Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ). You scratch your head and wonder, what is this disease, and what you can do to alleviate the pain you’re experiencing. Famous massage centers like Wayne Massage in Sydney might offer oral massage sessions to help with the pain.
Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome: What Is It?
Your temporomandibular joint consists of muscles, nerves, bones, and blood vessels. In an anatomical sense, you have two temporomandibular joints. These are located at each side of your jaw. TMJ syndrome is the excruciating pain you feel in your jaw joints that may be caused by several medical concerns. The temporomandibular joint links the lower jaw, otherwise known as the mandible, to the temporal bone. This bodily connection makes chewing easier, smiling appear natural, and speaking more smooth. If you suffer from TMJ syndrome, you will experience head and neck pains, ear pains, facial pains, a locked jaw, popping sounds when you eat and difficulty biting.
If you suffer from temporomandibular joint syndrome, you don’t have to worry as several pain-relieving solutions are available for the treatment.
Treatment Options for TMJ Syndrome
Like most medical concerns, the treatment of the TMJ syndrome needs the intervention of health professionals. These health professionals will recommend a variety of solutions, depending on your TMJ syndrome situation, your lifestyle and other deciding factors that can affect the effectiveness of the treatment.
- Intra-oral massage:
Much like the name suggests, intra-oral massage is an oral massage conducted within your mouth. This massage therapy targets the mouth’s muscles such as the lateral and medial pterygoids, buccinator, and masseter. Why these muscles? This portion of your mouth is responsible for opening, moving, chewing, and clenching.Intra-oral massage is also utilized for myofascial release work. This massage therapy option is slow, gentle, and painless for a patient suffering from TMJ syndrome. Depending on the assessment of a healthcare professional, a patient may need several sessions of intra-oral massage to resolve temporomandibular joint syndrome.
- Pain Relievers: For some individuals who may not be suited for an intra-oral massage, they can be prescribed with anti-inflammatory medicines or pain relievers. However, this can only provide a short relief for TMJ syndrome.
- Home Remedies and Lifestyle Adjustments: Aside from treatment options that your healthcare professional will suggest, you’ll be advised to make necessary lifestyle adjustments and cheaper home remedies if the pain of TMJ syndrome persists.Instead of constantly digging in on hard-to-chew food items, eating soft meals is more ideal. You can also cut large portions into smaller and manageable ones. In the meantime, stay away from sticky food items as the tension from chewing may cause pain.In addition, your healthcare professional may show you mouth exercises that you can do daily. This functions like a massage therapy that aims to strengthen your mouth’s muscles and jaws.
As a closing note, it is important that you follow what your healthcare professionals recommend. Many competent healthcare providers can do intra-oral massage for TMJ syndrome patients as it is one of the most effective, non-surgical and long-lasting remedies.
If you have questions about the temporomandibular joint syndrome, various types of massages or physical therapy, and other solutions for this medical condition, don’t hesitate to approach your trusted healthcare partner. You can also visit CEN Chiro if you want to try chiropractic therapy to relieve some pain.
