Worldwide, over one-third of the world's population suffers from temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders that may cause them significant discomfort. Alongside this news, the Journal of Clinical Medicine reported that over a quarter of U.S. citizens felt this, a statistically significant percentage of the population. Were you aware, however, that there is a strong link between TMJ and headaches and that possible solutions exist to help you avoid such facial discomfort?
Read on to learn more about disorders, including:
- What causes TMJ issues
- What symptoms may point to TMJ problems
- What non-surgical remedies are available
- How to use natural remedies to manage the pain
Discover your options and improve your quality of life by targeting the TMJ symptoms and causes of TMJ discomfort. Get the relaxed night's sleep you deserve.
What is TMJ and How Can It Affect You?
The TMJ is a hinge that connects your jaw to your skill, allowing you to raise and lower your jaw, which is helpful for things like:
- Talking
- Biting and chewing
- Yawning
- Making expressions
- Dentist appointments
Disorders in these areas can impact the joint and several surrounding muscles. The discomfort may not always be directly in that area, either, and may radiate out to the surrounding tissues and cause headaches.
The reasons for TMJ discomfort can be various. There isn't only one trigger, so it is not always easy to pin down. You may begin to suffer due to such problems as:
- Jaw misalignment
- Dislocation of the joint
- Arthritis that causes discomfort
- Trauma impacting the joint
Over time, this discomfort can cause significant issues for the sufferer and may even impact daily activities.Not only might it affect a person's ability to perform direct action involving the jaw, but the general discomfort that radiates out may be too distracting for the person to enjoy other activities.
Understanding the Link Between TMJ and Headaches
As the jaw changes due to the onset of TMJ, inflammation may start radiating out from the jaw to the broader area. The effect may grow to areas around nerve connections in the skull. This acts as a jaw pain to headache connection that can quickly cause discomfort in many sufferers.
Similarly, chronic jaw tension and clenching, often caused by TMJ disorders, can put further pressure on nerves in the head. This pressure can trigger further headaches if left untreated, so it is essential to do what you can to reduce it when possible.
Some sufferers report that the feeling of TMJ discomfort is similar to that of a migraine and may often cause similar distractions or other issues. It can be distracting for a person experiencing it, and it can cause areas all over the head and face to feel uncomfortable.
In some cases, the jaw's misalignment can even stress further surrounding muscles as they need to compensate. This feeling may appear like tension or cluster headaches, further confusing a possible diagnosis.
Understanding this link and the possible ways it can make a person feel can help when it comes to choosing and leveraging effective headache relief.
Why You Should Investigate Non-Surgical Relief Options
While some doctors may promote the use of invasive procedures to reduce tension-based headaches, not all TMJ pain solutions need to come with such drastic action.
Non-surgical options are also available that can help, many of which you can leverage outside of a hospital and in your own home.As such, they are also more accessible when it comes to time investment and affordability.
Dietary Adjustments
Your jaw will likely need some time to recover from the damage it has already faced. In the short term, reduce the amount of hard or chewy food you eat to reduce the stress on your jaw and help prevent further aggravating any existing TMJ problem symptoms.
It may also be that you eat or drink a lot of things that cause your jaw to tense up. Some of the more common examples are those that give you sudden bursts of energy, such as sugar or caffeine. Try limiting these, at least temporarily, until your body has had a chance to catch up.
When choosing foods to eat, consider those with anti-inflammatory nutrients, such as vitamin B2 or alpha-lipoic acids.These can drastically reduce the swelling that may cause significant pain around the head and prevent other issues. Also, stay well-hydrated to ensure the body has enough water to work at peak efficiency.
From a logistical point of view, you may also want to eat more frequent, smaller meals throughout the day. This eating technique will reduce the amount of chewing you need to perform in a short period, allowing you to take breaks as you eat throughout the day.
Supplements and Nutritional Assistance
If you cannot always get the nutrition you need from food, for several reasons, such as:
- Busy lifestyles
- Limited dietary choices
- Lack of resources
- Food intolerances
- Dietary restrictions
Any of these may lead to, for example, someone not being able to eat as many leafy greens as they usually do.
Supplements can, thus, help provide the essential nutrients one needs when such difficulties get in the way of a more rounded diet. Unlike a quick fix, however, you should ensure you take supplements regularly over time. You can then give your body what it needs to continue to repair itself consistently, such as in your jaw or the surrounding tissue.
While supplements are beneficial, make sure to also take them alongside a more balanced lifestyle, including well-rounded meals and regular exercise. Combining nutrients, fibers, and the improved circulation of regular movements can support digestion and nutrient absorption, enhancing their effectiveness.
How MiGuard Supports TMJ Headache Relief
MiGuard is a natural supplement that offers several benefits related to targeting common TMJ-related headache symptoms.It can help to reduce tension and nerve inflammation and, alongside a balanced lifestyle, support the reduction of discomfort caused by TMJ.
For example, some of the ingredients in MiGuard perform the following roles:
Magnesium can reduce the natural prevalence of headaches.
Coenzyme Q10 supports the metabolism of energy and empowers the body's mitochondria.
Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) regulates the body's neurotransmitters and controls the buildup of free radicals, which can cause severe headaches and migraines.
Vitamin B2 empowers the creation of cellular energy and can reduce the frequency of headaches and similar discomfort.
Ginger root extract has long been believed to have pain-relieving properties. These days, we also understand its anti-inflammatory benefits to be valid.
While you can source many of these from a regular diet, MiGuard offers a single, effective method to ensure you get the proper daily amounts. These supplements provide potent relief from discomfort caused by TMJ and allow you to seek out additional solutions.
Miguard is also a natural and drug-free option.As such, it is perfect for those who want to avoid medication or other chemical-based options by offering an alternative solution.
So, use MiGuard alongside other lifestyle changes that will give you the best chance of escaping TMJ headaches forever when used together.
Other Options for Tension Headaches and Treatment
Several other non-surgical options are available that can offer effective methods of managing pain without resorting to costly or invasive procedures. As previously mentioned, many of these are lifestyle changes and other alternative therapeutic practices.
Several of these techniques focus on reducing the muscle tension you may feel in your body.They encourage you to relax your muscles, giving your joints a chance to have a reprieve from the work you have put them through.
Physical Therapy
By gently stretching and strengthening your jaw, you can improve its mobility and reduce the amount it might hurt after significant tensing. This exercise is akin to athletes training their muscles to be more comfortable after extended workouts.
You can also learn techniques for massaging the jaw around areas such as the:
- Jaw
- Neck
- Temples
- Shoulders
- Back of the head
As these areas are impacted mainly by radiating discomfort from a TMJ disorder, massage may be able to help you overcome difficulties and feel more comfortable.
You may also want to investigate improving your posture. While it may seem strange, better neck and back posture can also affect the position of your jaw. Thus, improvements in one can offer solutions in the other.
If you feel the onset of pain, you may also want to consider hot and cold packs to reduce inflammation. They may not be a permanent solution but instead offer temporary relief.
Relaxation Techniques to Reduce TMJ Signs
Learning meditation or relaxation techniques can help you reduce the amount of stress impacting your muscles. Learn to let go of your grip on your jaw or neck muscles and work them less hard.
Guided meditation can also lower stress levels more generally. As one of the major reasons for jaw clenching is subconscious tensing due to stress, this can significantly help you slow down the amount of clenching you perform.
One of the primary techniques you can learn is mindfulness. This method of meditation encourages you to think about the state of your body a lot more. You can then recognize when you are actively tensing your jaw and consciously relax it, giving it a chance to recover.
Stretching exercises can also help boost the resilience of the jaw, neck, and shoulders. As such, you may be able to withstand additional discomfort in these areas while you search for a more long-term relief method.
At the same time, deep breathing exercises are another method of meditation that can allow you to reduce the stress-induced tension in your body. You will then slow down how fast mood issues are causing TMJ disorder symptoms in your body.
Seeking Physical Support for TMJ
Working with a physical therapist can give you additional options for performing jaw exercises away from the clinic. While they are not likely to permanently stop TMJ issues on their own, alongside better nutrition through food or supplements, it can go a long way to battling them.
They will likely suggest exercises for gently opening and closing your mouth with less pain. They may also offer ways to strengthen your jaw muscles without clenching. These can improve TMJ flexibility and alleviate pressure on the jaw itself.
Some physical therapists also offer various therapies. You should judge each one on its own merits, determining if it matches your needs and is likely to slow the onset of TMJ symptoms.
Developing a Consistent Nighttime Routine
If you often wake up suffering from TMJ problems, such as an aching jaw or headaches, you may want to investigate a more regular sleep schedule. Without healthy or consistent sleep, your body is likely to face additional risks that can exacerbate the signs of TMJ issues.
Your body uses the time you are asleep to repair and renew many aspects of itself, including the muscles and the brain.
If you do not give your body enough time to get deep and restful sleep, you will find that several issues may start to appear, including:
Additional tension: Your body cannot effectively balance hormones and will have trouble handling the mental stress you put on it. During sleep, your body can increase or reduce chemicals in the bloodstream much more easily, boosting your ability to maintain a balanced mood.
Increased mental load: During deep sleep, your body organizes and categorizes many memories and experiences you gained during waking hours. If you do not get adequate sleep, it can start to cause additional stress as you try to manage the information you have available.
Reduced pain tolerance: Better sleep increases your ability to handle significant amounts of pain. Even if the pain from a TMJ problem is not overwhelming, a lack of sleep may push you to find it much harder to tolerate, increasing stress further.
Handle Your TMJ-Related Headaches Today
TMJ and headaches are more related than you might have thought. However, you can find a more effective solution to get the relief you need with the right combination of treatments.
MiGuard offers a natural option to ensure you have the nutrition necessary to battle TMJ and headaches while living an everyday, balanced life. So, check out our store online and learn more about what MiGuard can do to help you reduce the regularity of headaches that overturn your day.