In Georgia, one of the cities with the busiest people is Atlanta. It is the state’s capital, after all, and an active economy can be expected. With such busy lifestyles, stress is a common problem. Stress can have a lot of negative effects throughout the body.
One problem that stress can lead to is Temporomandibular Jaw (TMJ) disorders. According to WebMD, one of the causes of TMJ is stress as you tend to clench your teeth or tighten your facial and jaw muscles. Sometimes, the symptoms may go away without needing treatment. If they persist, though, that’s when you will need treatment. Here are some treatment options that medical practitioners may recommend:
Medications
Over-the-counter pain relievers may be enough to deal with mild cases of TMJ. Otherwise, you may need to get a prescription from a dentist or doctor for stronger pain relief.
Night Guards
These are devices for protecting the teeth that are designed, as the name implies, to be worn at night while you sleep. Dental offices, such as Buckhead Esthetic Dentistry, provide custom-fit night guards for you to wear between the teeth. A dentist will recommend a mouth guard or night guard, depending on your situation.
The main difference is that a night guard is designed such that it won’t fall off when you are asleep. It prevents the teeth from grinding together or clenching. These devices are often incorporated with other treatment methods.
Therapies
The Mayo Clinic states that ultrasound or moist heat and ice are coupled with exercises, which strengthen and stretch the jaw muscles, to treat TMJ. Radio wave therapy and low-level laser therapy are also used.
Surgery
This option is mostly reserved for last, and only considered when the other more conservative treatment options do not remove the pain.
If you suffer from TMJ, know that you have many options for treatment or medication. To be sure with what you choose, always be guided by a dentist or medical practitioner.
Sources:
(Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMD, TMJ), WebMD)
(TMJ disorders, Mayo Clinic)