Category Archives: TMJ

What is Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD), and How Can Acupuncture Help?

Posted on by
Reply
What is Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD), and How Can Acupuncture Help?

What is TMD?

Temporomandibular disorder is characterized by excessive pressure in the jaw muscles or the TMJ (joint within).

Aside from trauma, impact, or degeneration, the leading causes of TMD are stress and jaw clenching. Warning signs of TMD include grinding of the teeth, excessive cartilage movement in the area surrounding the joint, arthritis, headaches, dizziness, hearing problems, and stress that can cause teeth clenching.

Symptoms and Treatment

Symptoms of TMD are pain and discomfort. The effect can be temporary or lasting on one or both sides of the face. TMD is most common among women between the ages of 20 and 40. Pain can manifest in the face, jaw, neck, shoulders, and ears or when opening and closing the mouth. As the face swells, chewing can become uncomfortable. In more severe instances, the jaw can lock in place (dislocate), and the individual may be unable to close and open the mouth.

Typical home remedies that relieve TMD symptoms include over-the-counter anti-inflammatories, heat/cold packs, face yoga, and a soft diet. In addition, doctors recommend avoiding excessive jaw movements such as yawning or yelling. Finally, any activities that promote facial relaxation are helpful.

A typical diagnosis requires the doctor to check the joints for pain and listen for clicking or grinding sounds. Doctors also test the bite and any problems in the facial muscles. Typically a dentist will take x-rays to exclude other potential problems. TMD patients will get referred to an oral surgeon in most extreme cases.

Can acupuncture alleviate TMD?

Since relaxation is the perfect treatment for TMD, acupuncture is ideal. In addition, acupuncture is a safe and effective technique for treating TMD. Through direct stimulation of the nerves, acupuncture eases pain increasing regenerative blood flow and endorphins to the affected areas and the brain. When the endorphins and neurotransmitters are released, pain perception lessens.

For more information on how acupuncture can benefit your jaw and teeth grinding, and ease eating discomfort, contact Fast Relief Acupuncture today.

Hi,

My Name is John Kim

I have been a licensed acupuncturist since 2000. When I first started my acupuncture career, my primary goal as a practitioner was to help people anguishing from living with pain everyday of their lives. I have seen on numerous occasions what chronic pain can do to a person physically but also seen how it can debilitate a person’s psyche as well.


Throughout the years, I have studied, developed and incorporated a very unique treatment protocol that has successfully treated and effectively reduced pain levels on chronic pain patients. I have combined traditional methods of acupuncture along with modern, research proven techniques to help reduce chronic pain symptoms in a safe, non- chemically addictive, and effective process.


If you have any of the following:

  • Headache/ Migraine
  • Arthritis/ Stenosis
  • Nerve pain
  • Neck/Back pain
  • Fibromyalgia pain
  • Allergies
  • TMJ
  • Plantar Fasciitis
  • Scar Tissue
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Share0
Tweet0
Share0
Pin0

Do not hesitate and contact me!

I am here to help you to feel your very best!

Request an Appointment

Can Acupuncture Help Children with TMJ disorders?

Posted on by
Reply
What is TMJ? -- TMJ (Temporomandibular joint dysfunction) is a painful jaw condition that affects more than three million people per year (more females than males). TMJ warning signs are restricted jaw mobility, pain while chewing, ear pain, facial pain, headaches, and a grinding sensation in the bone/joints. Causes include bad habits, gum chewing, jaw misalignment, trauma/injury, poor posture, arthritis, and stress.

Are the Complications Serious?

TMJ complicated by bad habits can lead to tinnitus (ringing in the ears), vision problems, and permanent hearing loss. In addition, TMJ can affect the inner ear resulting in dizziness and balance problems.

Treatment

Treatments range from the least invasive (such as behavior modification) to more invasive (surgery). If you suspect that you may be dealing with TMJ symptoms, it is best to consult your primary physician and/or dentist. Non-invasive treatments include maintaining natural jaw posture, heat/ice packs, bite guards, anti-inflammatories, massage, stretching, and stress management. Medical and more invasive treatment includes dental splints, physical therapy, Botox injections, prescription-strength medications, and surgery.

Stress and Anxiety

Outside of traumatic injury, the most prevalent causes of TMJ are stress and anxiety. Children are particularly susceptible to pressure when faced with new situations, tests, or dealing with emotion management. Therefore, TMJ child-patients tend to be ten years old and older (more common in teenage girls), although some patients have been as young as five. Given the real impact of stress, stress management is a valuable life skill to develop since stress affects our total health. Anxiety treatments range from behavioral modification, emotion management, medication, and therapy.

Acupuncture and treatment of TMJ

When searching for a holistic regiment of treatment, it is best to consider acupuncture. Acupuncture treatment has been proven successful in managing TMJ symptoms and stopping the progression of the disease. Moreover, acupuncture releases endorphins (the feel-good hormones) and, as a result, reduces stress and pain.

In addition, a consistent treatment regimen can improve full-body health and reduce anxiety. Since stress and anxiety are the two biggest culprits in causing TMJ, the relief can be remarkable. Besides balancing the hormone levels, acupuncture improves blood circulation. When blood circulation is improved, the body can heal itself more efficiently.

By alleviating neuro-muscular tension in the facial area, an acupuncturist can treat not only the symptoms but the underlying causes of TMJ. In addition, since acupuncture promotes overall relaxation, it can be a voluble tool when dealing with stress and anxiety. Call us today to discuss treatment options so that you and your family are on your way to excellent health.

Hi,

My Name is John Kim

I have been a licensed acupuncturist since 2000. When I first started my acupuncture career, my primary goal as a practitioner was to help people anguishing from living with pain everyday of their lives. I have seen on numerous occasions what chronic pain can do to a person physically but also seen how it can debilitate a person’s psyche as well.


Throughout the years, I have studied, developed and incorporated a very unique treatment protocol that has successfully treated and effectively reduced pain levels on chronic pain patients. I have combined traditional methods of acupuncture along with modern, research proven techniques to help reduce chronic pain symptoms in a safe, non- chemically addictive, and effective process.


If you have any of the following:

  • Headache/ Migraine
  • Arthritis/ Stenosis
  • Nerve pain
  • Neck/Back pain
  • Fibromyalgia pain
  • Allergies
  • TMJ
  • Plantar Fasciitis
  • Scar Tissue
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Share0
Tweet0
Share0
Pin0

Do not hesitate and contact me!

I am here to help you to feel your very best!

Request an Appointment

Can Acupuncture Treat TMJ?

Posted on by
Reply
Jaw pain and stiffness are debilitating for many.  By addressing the root causes (stress and tension),           acupuncture alleviates symptoms.

TMJ (Temporomandibular joint) syndrome is an affliction that most struggle with at some point in their lives. It stems from stress, jaw-joint tension and can appear as jaw stiffness, dizziness, teeth sensitivity or grinding, numbness in the fingertips, pain in the ear area, face, neck, or pain while eating. TMJ can be the result of trauma, arthritis, or be present since birth. While it is tempting to think that an ice pack will solve all problems, TMJ may be persistent and debilitating. It can cause grinding or clicking sounds in the jaw joint and consistent pain that interferes with work and enjoyment of daily life.

According to the John Hopkins Medical Journal, TMJ can stem from stress and misalignment of the joint and muscles, dislocated joint/disc, or degenerative disease (such as arthritis). Treatment options vary from your traditional home remedies, anti-inflammatories to surgery. Since surgery is costly and risky, it is the last course of action and only in extreme cases. Often, TMJ surgery repairs or replaces the jaw joint but does not relieve the pain. Thankfully, we have alternative options that target the root cause of most TMJ cases: stress and tension. Any treatment option is best, accompanied by habitual changes (such as relaxation of jaw exercises to stop clenching), physical therapy, posture changes, and stress management.

Acupuncture is a known resource for TMJ symptom management since it helps to relieve tension and improve joint mobility and pain. One of the reasons that acupuncture works so well is because it does not just relieve the symptoms. Instead, it combats the stress (that causes TMJ in the first place) while increasing circulation in the joints and stimulating the body's natural immune defenses. According to the Mayo Clinic, a succession of acupuncture treatments may eliminate the original stressor of TMJ, curing the syndrome at its' root. By relieving stress, depression, anxiety, and mental disorders, acupuncture addresses the root causes of tension-based pain. Combined with other relaxation techniques (meditation, mindfulness, yoga, and stretching), acupuncture lowers blood Cortisol levels, helping to reduce heart rate, cholesterol, and improves circulation/BMI. By reducing stress and increasing endorphin levels, acupuncture treatment helps the body heal itself with its' own immune processes. Acupuncture relief treatments contribute to overall well-being and target the root causes of discomfort.  

Hi,

My Name is John Kim

I have been a licensed acupuncturist since 2000. When I first started my acupuncture career, my primary goal as a practitioner was to help people anguishing from living with pain everyday of their lives. I have seen on numerous occasions what chronic pain can do to a person physically but also seen how it can debilitate a person’s psyche as well.


Throughout the years, I have studied, developed and incorporated a very unique treatment protocol that has successfully treated and effectively reduced pain levels on chronic pain patients. I have combined traditional methods of acupuncture along with modern, research proven techniques to help reduce chronic pain symptoms in a safe, non- chemically addictive, and effective process.


If you have any of the following:

  • Headache/ Migraine
  • Arthritis/ Stenosis
  • Nerve pain
  • Neck/Back pain
  • Fibromyalgia pain
  • Allergies
  • TMJ
  • Plantar Fasciitis
  • Scar Tissue
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Share0
Tweet0
Share0
Pin0

Do not hesitate and contact me!

I am here to help you to feel your very best!

Request an Appointment