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TMJ Therapy Columbus OH

"Because we believe that great dentistry and great health affects your every smile, every conversation, every meal, and every kiss profoundly"

TMJ Therapy Columbus OH

"Because we believe that great dentistry and great health affects your
every smile, every conversation, every meal, and every kiss profoundly"

What is TMJ?

TMJ or otherwise known as the temporomandibular joint is located on both your left and right jaw joints. In some cases, patients may experience TMJ syndrome or TMD, also known as a temporomandibular disorder which can affect the function of the jaw joint. Patients who experience this disorder may notice their jaw making a popping or clicking sound when during normal movements like chewing or yawning. This disorder can cause a chain of severe pains that are linked to muscle pain, locking joints, headaches, and much more.

TMJ is a result of tightening jaw muscles but can be treated through TMJ therapy and exercises. We use our mouths for many activities: talking, eating, yawning, laughing. When we are not engaged in these, we need to allow our jaw muscles and joints to relax. Many people have developed habits that do not permit their jaw muscles or joints to relax sufficiently. The TMJ therapy steps listed below will help you learn how to relax these muscles and joints—and reduce the jaw pain you are experiencing.

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Dublin, OH

5152 Blazer Pkwy #100
Dublin, Ohio 43017

(614) 889-8222
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NEW ALBANY, OH

5101 Forest Dr B
New Albany, Ohio 43054

(614) 933-9800
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UPPER ARLINGTON, OH

3100 Tremont Rd Ste 110
Columbus, Ohio 43221

(614) 618-0116
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CHILLICOTHE, OH

1132 Western Ave
Chillicothe, Ohio 45601

(614) 889-8222
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APPLYING HOT OR COLD PACKS

Applying hot or cold packs to the affected area could help ease the pain associated with this disorder. Moist heat, ice or even a combination of the two can be pressed up against the painful area(s). Most patients reported to preferring a heat compress for their TMJ therapy. However, every person’s body is different, and sometimes heat can increase your pain. It will be wise to use a combination of the two (by taking turns) or by using ice alone.

Apply moist heat for 20 minutes, two to four times each day. You can easily perform this pain treatment at home by wetting a towel with very warm water. You can keep the towel warm by wrapping it around a hot water bottle or by placing a piece of plastic wrap and a heating pad over it. The towel also can be rewarmed in a microwave oven or under very warm tap water.

Use the combination of heat and ice, two to four times each day. Apply the heat as recommended above for 10 minutes, then lightly brush the painful area with an ice cube wrapped in a thin washcloth. Repeat this sequence four or five times. Apply ice wrapped in a thin washcloth to the painful area until you begin to feel the affected painful area begin to numb (usually in about 10 minutes), then remove it. Some patients report of having alleviated pain because of the use of night guard therapy control or even Botox. Every patient with TMJ can experience different levels of pain. Talk to your periodontist about these another version of pain relief and how they can help you reduce the pressure pains of TMJ.

Some More Suggestions

Eat Soft Foods

Confine your diet to soft foods such as casseroles, canned fruit, soups, eggs and yogurt. As part of TMJ therapy, do not chew gum or eat hard foods (such as raw carrots) or chewy foods (such as caramels, steak or bagels). Cut other food into small pieces, and chew on both sides of your mouth to reduce the strain from eating on one side.

Keeping Your Jaw Muscles Rested

Keep your teeth apart and practice good posture When you’re not chewing, your teeth should never touch (except occasionally when you swallow). Closely monitor your jaw position for signs of clenching. As a TMJ exercise, try placing your tongue  lightly on the top of your mouth behind your upper front teeth, allowing the teeth to come apart and relaxing the jaw muscles.

Good head, neck, and back posture can help you maintain good jaw posture. Try to hold your head up straight, and use a small pillow or rolled towel to support your lower back. Avoid habits such as resting your jaw on your hand or cradling the telephone against your shoulder.

Avoid Caffeine

Caffeine is detrimental to TMJ therapy as it stimulates your muscles to contract and, therefore, become tenser. Caffeine or caffeine-like drugs are in coffee, tea, most sodas, and chocolate. Be aware of the sugary drinks you have as some may stimulate the muscles in your jaw to contract.

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"There is absolutely nothing I would change about my experience! Courteous, professional, and caring are just a few of the words I would use to describe Dr. Stoner and his staff."

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MIRANDA B.

"What a wonderful experience from the very beginning. The made me feel so comfortable and relaxed and put me at ease during the entire process. My procedure went so smoothly and I have minimal pain..."

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Watch Your Habits

Avoid oral habits that put a strain on the jaw muscles and joints. These include, among others, clenching the teeth; grinding the teeth (bruxism); touching or resting the teeth together; biting your cheeks, your lips or objects you put in your mouth; pushing the tongue against the teeth; and tensing the jaw. If you focus on resting your jaw, you will start to feel more relaxed as a whole. If you continue to strain your jaw in one of the situations listed above, you can be sure that your TMJ therapy will fail and the pain will continue.

Sleep Smart

Avoid sleeping habits that strain your jaw muscles or joints. Don’t sleep on your stomach, and if you sleep on your side, keep your neck and jaw aligned. Doing so will put less stress on jaw muscles, aiding in TMJ therapy.

Don’t Open Wide

Until the pain has been reduced, avoid activities that involve opening the jaw wide—yawning, yelling, prolonged dental treatments, etc. It’s incredibly important to allow your jaw muscles to rest.

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Dr. Jason Stoner

Periodontist

Board Certification in Periodontology and Dental Implant Surgery by the American Board of Periodontology

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Dr. Maria ferriol

Periodontist

Board Certification in Periodontology and Dental Implant Surgery by the American Board of Periodontology

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Dr. Michael Kreitzer

Periodontist

Board Certification in Periodontology and Dental Implant Surgery by the American Board of Periodontology

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Columbus
Based Periodontists

Our Exceptional Clinical Abilities Stem from a Perfectly Balanced Blend of Expertise, Research, Science and Art.

Use Medications with TMJ Therapy

Use anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing medications like Aleve (Syntex Laboratories), ibuprofen, Tylenol (McNeil Laboratories), aspirin (without caffeine) and Percogesic (Procter & Gamble) to reduce joint and muscle pain. Avoid medications with caffeine, such as Anacin (Whitehall), Excedrin (Bristol-Myers Squibb Company) or Vanquish (Glenbrook). Talk to your doctor about other medications that could help alleviate your jaw muscle pain.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the TMJ therapy listed above, be sure to call our office for more information. Our trained professionals can answer any questions you may have about our TMJ Treatment. You can give us a call or contact us using our online Contact Form. We understand the struggles of TMJ, and we are willing to help aid you in pain relieving tips. While there is no cure for this syndrome, there are many ways to alleviate the pain associated with it.