Temporomandibular joint disorder causes pain and jaw locking that can be worsened with certain activities. How individuals can manage and prevent flare-ups by learning what not to do to worsen the condition?

What Not To Do Temporomandibular Joint Disorder

Tenderness, aching, pain, and jaw locking are symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorder or TMJ. The temporomandibular joint connects the jaw to the skull. It is used daily for eating, drinking, and talking. It is a small disc in the joint that allows the jaw bones to slip and slide correctly. With TMJ, the disc shifts out of place, leading to clicking, snapping, and limited jaw movement. It can also cause pain in the jaw and face, neck pain, and headaches, and the muscles around the jaw and neck can become sore and/or go into spasm. Any type of activity that stresses or overworks the joint can trigger a flare-up and worsen TMJ symptoms. (Schiffman E, et al. 2014) This article looks at avoiding activities that make TMJ worse and what not to do to help keep TMJ symptoms in check.

Chewing Gum

• Gum chewing is not recommended for individuals with TMJ.
• The jaw is one of the most used joints in the body.
• Limiting excessive use alleviates pressure allowing the joints and muscles to rest.
• Resting sore muscles and joints is the first step in injury recovery.

Eating Chewy and Hard Foods

• Chewy and hard foods make the jaw have to work overtime.
• Avoid eating hard foods like chewy candies, hard and chewy breads, and vegetables like corn on the cob, and fruits like apples.
• These foods can place excessive stress on the jaw,  and prevent the joint from properly resting and healing.

Chewing Only On One Side

• Many individuals chew their food on only one side of the mouth.
• This can stress out one side of the temporomandibular joint and surrounding muscles, leading to pain and dysfunction. (Urbano Santana-Mora, et al., 2013)
• Stay aware of chewing habits and make sure to utilize both sides of the mouth.
• Individuals with dental issues or tooth pain are recommended to see a dentist.

Non-Functional Jaw Activities

• Going through each day, individuals tend to do things unconsciously or out of habit.
• For example, individuals:
• Reading or writing might chew on a pen or pencil.
• Bite their nails or chew on the inside of their mouth while watching TV or internet browsing.
• These activities can place stress on the joint, worsen the condition, and extend the healing process.

Resting on The Chin

• Individuals will rest their jaw in their hands while studying, on social media, or watching TV.
• This position can be comfortable, but it can affect the jaw.
• This position can build pressure against the side of the jaw and push against the joint, causing the disc to shift out of place affecting how the jaw opens and closes.
• Breaking the chin resting habit can allow the joint to relax and heal correctly.

Teeth Clenching

• Bruxism is the medical term for clenching the teeth.
• This can occur during the day or during sleep.
• Teeth clenching is often brought on by stress and can place incredible pressure on the jaw’s muscles and worsen TMJ.
• A dentist can prescribe a mouth guard to be worn while sleeping to protect the teeth from excessive clenching. (Miriam Garrigós-Pedrón, et al., 2019)

Slouching

• The function of the jaw is closely related to body posture.
• The jaw operates optimally when the head is above the cervical spine and the posture is upright.
• Slouching can change how the jaw muscles work and the way the jaw opens and closes.
• Part of physical therapy for TMJ is working on posture adjustments and training.
• This can involve strengthening the back and shoulder muscles and setting up posture reminders.
• Sitting and standing correctly can keep the jaw operating properly.

Postponing Treatment

• Many with musculoskeletal issues and symptoms wait for the pain to go away.
• Individuals having problems with their jaw should not wait to get treatment.
• TMJ has a positive rate of recovery with conservative treatment, which is all the more reason to seek treatment. (G Dimitroulis. 2018)
• A dentist or healthcare provider can provide an accurate diagnosis if TMJ is suspected.
• Individuals can benefit from visiting a physical therapist to learn exercises and strategies to self-treat the condition. (Yasser Khaled, et al., 2017)

Treatment

Treatment can involve:

• Initial treatment focuses on pain relief and jaw function opens and closes improvement.
• Exercises to get the jaw moving normally.
• Joint mobilizations.
• Treatments to maintain proper muscle function. (Amira Mokhtar Abouelhuda, et al., 2018)
• A guard can help with night teeth grinding/bruxism.
• Anti-inflammatory treatments.
• In severe cases, surgery may be recommended to correct the problem, as a last resort. (Meghan K Murphy, et al., 2013)
• Follow recommendations on what not to do and avoid certain activities.

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References

Schiffman, E., Ohrbach, R., Truelove, E., Look, J., Anderson, G., Goulet, J. P., List, T., Svensson, P., Gonzalez, Y., Lobbezoo, F., Michelotti, A., Brooks, S. L., Ceusters, W., Drangsholt, M., Ettlin, D., Gaul, C., Goldberg, L. J., Haythornthwaite, J. A., Hollender, L., Jensen, R., … Orofacial Pain Special Interest Group, International Association for the Study of Pain (2014). Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD) for Clinical and Research Applications: recommendations of the International RDC/TMD Consortium Network* and Orofacial Pain Special Interest Group†. Journal of oral & facial pain and headache, 28(1), 6–27. doi.org/10.11607/jop.1151

Santana-Mora, U., López-Cedrún, J., Mora, M. J., Otero, X. L., & Santana-Penín, U. (2013). Temporomandibular disorders: the habitual chewing side syndrome. PloS one, 8(4), e59980. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0059980

Garrigós-Pedrón, M., Elizagaray-García, I., Domínguez-Gordillo, A. A., Del-Castillo-Pardo-de-Vera, J. L., & Gil-Martínez, A. (2019). Temporomandibular disorders: improving outcomes using a multidisciplinary approach. Journal of multidisciplinary healthcare, 12, 733–747. doi.org/10.2147/JMDH.S178507

Dimitroulis G. (2018). Management of temporomandibular joint disorders: A surgeon’s perspective. Australian Dental Journal, 63 Suppl 1, S79–S90. doi.org/10.1111/adj.12593

Khaled Y, Quach JK, Brennan MT, NapeÑas JJ. Outcomes after physical therapy for the treatment of temporomandibular disorders. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol, 2017;124(3: e190. doi:10.1016/j.oooo.2017.05.477

Abouelhuda, A. M., Khalifa, A. K., Kim, Y. K., & Hegazy, S. A. (2018). Non-invasive different modalities of treatment for temporomandibular disorders: a review of the literature. Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, 44(2), 43–51. doi.org/10.5125/jkaoms.2018.44.2.43

Murphy, M. K., MacBarb, R. F., Wong, M. E., & Athanasiou, K. A. (2013). Temporomandibular disorders: a review of etiology, clinical management, and tissue engineering strategies. The International journal of oral & maxillofacial implants, 28(6), e393–e414. doi.org/10.11607/jomi.te20