You cannot omit facial expressions when discussing vital aspects of human communication. Your face will communicate not only thoughts but also your emotions. Smiling and frowning are some of the facial movements you make daily with little to no thoughts. However, if you have temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ), making those simple movements can be agonizing.
Worst, this condition can cause chewing difficulties, thus inhibiting you from enjoying your favorite meals. Learning to prevent Santa Monica TMJ can make a great difference. Let us go through the following tips to prevent this condition.
Manage Stress
Do you know that stress is among the leading causes of TMJ pain? When stressed, your body stimulates chemicals that increase tension in jaw muscles. You will then clench your teeth, thus aggravating the TMJ pain. Although stress is inevitable, you can easily destress by adopting the necessary measures. For example, soothing baths can help ease stressful thoughts, thus avoiding TMJ disorder.
Practice Strength Exercises
It would help never to neglect your jaws when finding the right physical activities for your overall health. Always remember that a stronger jaw is less likely to experience injuries that would cause TMJ pain. Place your thumb beneath your jaw and try opening your mouth five to ten times. When conducting this exercise, you should apply moderate pressure on the jaws. Daily exercise can help strengthen your jaw muscles, thus reducing the chances of TMJ pain.
Be Mindful of What You Eat
Your food choices play a role when it comes to the prevention of TMJ conditions. Eating chewy stuff like gums can expose your jaw muscles to unnecessary strain. Over time this pressure can cause TMJ pain, especially if you fall within the bracket of individuals prone to this condition. Choose soft meals that do not make your jaw muscles overwork. When eating, you should chew on both sides instead of chewing on a single side.
Embrace a Good Posture
The link between body positioning and TMJ pain can seem insignificant, but that is not the case. How you position yourself when conducting daily activities influences your jaw alignment. For example, leaning forward for a long time when operating computers can expose you to discomfort in your jaws. Your head should be aligned with your spine when sitting. Further, it would always help to adopt an erect posture when walking.
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
You may think that routine dental checkups only help to alleviate tartar, but you are mistaken. During the appointment, your dentist will examine whether you have alignment issues in your teeth and jaws. The dentist will recommend the appropriate treatment when they catch the TMJ condition symptoms. Whether you have a toothache or not, you should make your dentist a great professional friend. Visit them once every six months to stay in tune with your jaw health.
TMJ disorder is one of the leading orthodontic issues. It occurs when you have alignment issues in your jaws, which trigger discomfort. With this condition, it becomes difficult for you to express your facial emotions. The good news is that embracing the above strategies can help you minimize the risk of this condition. For example, adopting stress relief practices is essential in preventing tension in your jaw muscles. Importantly, keeping up with your dentist will also help identify early TMJ symptoms. This way, you will receive timely treatment if the dentist notices red flags.
