Jaw Pain, TMD, Tension, Stress and Teeth Grinding!

October 11, 2022

 

 

Tension, stress and jaw pain doesn’t just affect your jaw. It can lead to headaches, ear pain and a host of other symptoms associated with temporomandibular disorder (TMD)

At BWT we have therapists that specialise in treating the underlying causes of jaw pain, easing tight muscles, unloading the temporomandibular joints, creating good habits and re-educating posture to prevent the symptoms from returning.

Bruxism (brux-siz-um) is a condition in which you grind, gnash or clench your teeth, and can lead to jaw pain or TMD. If you have bruxism, you may sub -consciously clench your teeth when you’re conscious – awake bruxism – or clench or grind them during sleep – sleep bruxism. Treatment at BWT can address the issues of awake bruxism and a dentist may help with mouth guards for sleep bruxism, along with any problems with damaged teeth.

Teeth grinding is common in children and teenagers, particularly during sleep. It often stops when they reach adulthood and their adult teeth have come through.

Sleep bruxism is considered a sleep-related movement disorder. If you clench or grind your teeth (brux) during sleep you are more likely to have other sleep disorders, such as snoring and pauses in breathing (sleep apnoea). If you feel this is your main problem you may need to consult your GP.

Mild bruxism may not require treatment. However, in some people, bruxism can be frequent and severe enough to lead to jaw disorders, headaches, damaged teeth and other problems.

 

SYMPTOMS

As well as grinding your teeth and clenching your jaw, other symptoms can include:

• Face, neck and shoulder pain
• Pain that feels like an earache, though it’s actually not a problem with your ear
• Dull headache starting in the temples
• Damage from chewing on the inside of your cheek
• A painful jaw, which can lead to a condition called temporomandibular disorder (TMD)
• Tired or tight jaw muscles, or a locked jaw that won’t open or close completely
• Worn-down or broken teeth, which can cause increased sensitivity and loss of teeth and fillings
• Disturbed sleep
• Teeth grinding or clenching, this may even be loud enough to wake up your sleep partner!

 

WHAT CAN I DO?

When you are in pain eat soft foods like soup, pasta and omelettes. An ice pack or heat pack over the jaw may ease symptoms.

A good trick is to place the tongue in the roof of the mouth and let your jaw hang loose with a small gap between your teeth.

Check your posture to make sure you are not sitting or standing with your head poking forwards as this tends to force the jaw closed tight. This also happens if you sit with your chin on your hand. Apart from when eating, your teeth should always be apart, and your muscles relaxed.

Don’t chew gum or pen tops, bite food with your front teeth or bite your nails. Try not to open your jaw too widely when you yawn and take little bites and enjoy little kisses!

TREATMENT

Treatment is aimed at maintaining the resting position of your jaw by releasing soft tissues that have become overworked or tight. This may incorporate treating your spine as being able to maintain the correct curvatures and muscle balances are the foundation for where your head balances on your neck.

Stiffness in between your shoulder blades can mean loss of positioning of the skull on the neck. Tension in the soft tissues and muscles under the base of the skull alongside muscles that become longer and relatively weaker at the front of your neck can all be worked on to allow you to break bad habits and postures that will in turn reduce the stresses on the joint.

Treatment of the temporomandibular joint itself is a delicate process. The joint has an internal disc and ligament construction that requires careful assessment and gentle treatment. Muscle imbalances of the face and neck also require specific releases and re- education.

BWT are privileged to work with medical consultants and liaise with dentists to ensure you experience a total approach to your specific symptoms.

Sam Eeles, Chartered Physiotherapist and Samantha Meehan-Vandike, Senior Clinical Massage Therapist have a wealth of experience in dealing with jaw pain.

Call 01202 749514 or send an enquiry via https://www.bwtphysio.co.uk/contact-us/ to book or for more information.