tmj

Jawbone Health & TMJ: Ways To Improve It

Your jawbone health is more important than you may think. What many people don’t realize is that the health of your jawbone can have a profound effect on your overall health and well-being. This is because your jawbone is connected to a number of different muscles and ligaments in your face and neck. When these muscles and ligaments are not working properly, it can cause a number of different problems, ranging from pain in the jaw to headaches and even migraines. Fortunately, there are a number of different things that you can do to improve your jawbone health. In this blog post, we will explore some of the ways that you can improve your jawbone health and TMJ.

What is Jawbone Health?

There are many different things that can affect the health of your jawbone. Some of the more common problems include TMJ, teeth grinding, and clenching. These can all lead to a decrease in the strength and density of your jawbone. This can then lead to other problems, such as tooth loss and pain.

There are several ways that you can improve the health of your jawbone. One is to make sure that you’re getting enough calcium and vitamin D in your diet. You can also do exercises that target the muscles in your face and jaw. And finally, you can try using a mouthguard at night if you grind your teeth or clench your jaw while you sleep.

What is TMJ?

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the hinge joint that connects your jaw to your skull. It is responsible for the up and down motion of your jaw and is one of the most used joints in your body. TMJ is a shortened term for the temporomandibular joint. TMJ disorders are a type of dysfunction that can cause pain in your jaw, face, and head. There are many different treatments for TMJ disorders, but some simple lifestyle changes can also help improve your symptoms.

If you think you may have a TMJ disorder, it is important to see your doctor or dentist so they can properly diagnose and treat you. In the meantime, there are some things you can do at home to help relieve your symptoms.

Causes of TMJ

There are many potential causes of TMJ, but the most common is misalignment of the jaw. When the jaw is not properly aligned, it puts undue stress on the joints and muscles that control it. This can lead to pain and inflammation in the joint, as well as clicking or popping sounds when you open and close your mouth.

Other potential causes of TMJ include teeth grinding (bruxism), teeth clenching, arthritis, trauma to the jaw, and stress. If you have any of these risk factors, it’s important to see a dentist or doctor to get proper diagnosis and treatment. Treatments for TMJ can range from simple at-home remedies to more complex treatments like surgery.

Symptoms of TMJ

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the hinge connecting the lower jaw (the mandible) to the temporal bone of the skull, which is immediately in front of the ear on each side of your head. The TMJ allows the lower jaw to move forward, backward and side to side. But if you suffer from odontophobia, you won’t like that big word. It also acts as a shock absorber for the teeth, absorbing much of the impact from chewing.

There are many different symptoms associated with TMJ, and they can vary from person to person. Some common symptoms include:

– Pain in the jaw joint area

– Pain in the muscles around the jaw

– Clicking or popping sound when moving the jaw

– Limited movement of the jaw

Treatments for TMJ

There are a number of different treatments for TMJ, depending on the underlying causes. For example, if TMJ is caused by clenching or grinding your teeth (bruxism), your dentist may recommend wearing a mouthguard at night. If you have arthritis in your jaw, they may prescribe medication to help reduce inflammation and pain. Physical therapy exercises can also be helpful in treating TMJ.

Jawbone Health & TMJ: Ways to Improve It

There are many ways to improve the health of your jawbone and TMJ. Here are a few:

1. Eat a healthy diet. Include plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in your diet. Avoid sugary and fatty foods.

2. Exercise regularly. This will help keep your jaw muscles strong and healthy.

3. Practice good oral hygiene. Brush and floss your teeth regularly. See your dentist for regular checkups and cleanings.

4. Avoid clenching or grinding your teeth. If you do grind your teeth, ask your dentist about getting a mouth guard to wear at night.

5. Relax your jaw muscles when you feel them getting tight or stressed. Do some jaw stretches and exercises to keep them flexible and strong

Conclusion

There are many ways to improve the health of your jawbone and TMJ and by adding services such as this treatment, dentists can grow their practice. Some simple lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthy diet and practicing good oral hygiene, can make a big difference. If you’re suffering from TMJ pain, there are also several treatments that can help relieve your symptoms. If you’re concerned about the health of your jawbone or TMJ, talk to your doctor to find out what options are available to you.

Mindfulness and the power of the body to heal itself through physical excercise

Exercise is very good for the brain. As a personal trainer I am always emphasising the benefits of physical exercise to mood and brain functioning. People are used to balancing; standing on one leg, walking up steps, or even standing on a ladder we balance our bodies without even thinking. However, just balancing the body requires large amounts of brain power. One study suggested that balancing our bodies through complicated movements required as much brain power as learning a second language. It is the intensity of brain activity generated during exercise which seems to be so good for the brain, very similar to exercising the muscles. However, there are ways to gain even greater benefits for the brain from exercise.

A personal trainer has a responsibility to ensure that the client is doing the appropriate exercises correctly, but the personal trainer must also be aware that the client is fully engaged with the exercises. This means that the client is fully concentrating on the exercises, the client is not thinking about work, what they are going to do after training, in short they need to be mindful. Mindfulness is about being fully focussed on what you are doing now and, by implication, being aware to a level that is not usually obtained. An example helps. Often we can operate on automatic pilot, you might be driving a car and be completely oblivious of changing gears or changing lanes. As an exercise in mindfulness I will ask people to eat an apple and describe not only the taste, but the texture of the apple, the smell and the sound of biting into the apple, to fully focus on the eating of the apple.

When someone is exercising it is a little bit harder for them not to conscious of what they are doing, however extraneous thoughts can still intrude. So as a personal trainer I ask people to concentrate on all aspects of their experience, if they are running the feel of the wind on their skin, the rhythm of their breathing etc. This is mindfulness.

The final stage is called flow. In a state of the flow the person is completely oblivious of time and their surroundings; they are fully committed to the exercise and are performing at their maximum. Now it is difficult to obtain flow and remain in flow. However once a person has achieved flow it is a wonderful experience.

The advantage of mindfulness obtained through exercise is that once a person understands the concept of mindfulness it can be applied to many aspects of daily living.

Can Peace of Mind Assist With Longevity?

An old Sufi saying is, “Trust in Allah but tether your camel first”, which means it may be impossible to control everything in life but it pays to take care of your basic needs. Doing what is within your means to do, in terms of securing your existence, is still the best policy when it comes to peace of mind and longevity. You don’t know what your fate really is but you work with what knowledge and expectation you have in life. If possible you do not want to wake up in the desert and find that your camel has wandered off because you didn’t properly secure him or her (actually, according to the great TE Lawrence the female camel is by far the superior riding beast).

Deserts, like our lives, can span great distances and we are best served by securing our essential requirements when journeying through time and space. We all know that a worry free trip is a much more enjoyable one. There is nothing worse than being on holiday, or away from home for work, and being anxious about something. Worry can eat away at you over time and the old wives’ tale tells us that it causes grey hairs. Traumatic experiences have been known to send the hair of even youngish people grey, seemingly overnight.

What does the camel represent in our modern lives? I would say our ability to look after ourselves, and our families, for those with dependents. For some that may mean property accrued or savings, like superannuation, the investments we have worked hard for in our lives. Have we planned well for the future? If we utilise the best of our knowledge and abilities to strategically provide for our retirement, and families, we can create that peace of mind. Self-managing your superannuation funds can assist with achieving this outcome.

Peace of mind, due to financial security, can assist with longevity because we are happy and happier people want to stick around for longer. We cannot control everything in our lives, unforeseen tragedies can strike, but we can be as prepared as we possibly can. We can find that balance in our lives by putting away some funds for tomorrow, not everything, we still want to be able to enjoy things today. A big part of living a long life is planning for one, making sure that you will have enough funds to pay for a wonderful retirement. Is that camel securely tied up?