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DESCRIPTION:
The temporomandibular joint connects the mandible (lower jaw) to the part of the skull known as the temporal bone. The joint allows the lower jaw to move in all directions so that the teeth can bite off and chew food efficiently. Temporomandibular joint ( TMJ ) syndrome occurs when the joint, muscles and ligaments involved do not work together properly, resulting in pain. Men are three times more likely to get the condition than women.
How does TMJ syndrome develop?
Temporomandibular joint syndrome is caused by ligament laxity, often as a result of clenching the jaw or grinding the teeth, sleeping position or a forward positioned mandible (lower jaw). Malocclusion, or a poor bite, places stress on the muscles and may also lead to temporomandibular joint syndrome, as may an injury to the head, jaw or neck that causes displacement of the joint. If left untreated, osteoarthritis can result.
What are the symptoms of TMJ syndrome?
Symptoms can include pain when opening and closing the mouth, pain in the jaw area that spreads to the face or neck and shoulders, headaches, earaches or ringing in the ears, inability to open the mouth completely and "clicking" or "popping" sounds when chewing. Because these symptoms are common to other disorders, the problem is often misdiagnosed.
Conventional medical treatments may help relieve the symptoms of temporomandibular joint syndrome, but they do not address the root of the problem. By strengthening structural weaknesses in the body, as natural medicine treatments like Prolotherapy do, pain associated with temporomandibular joint syndrome may be alleviated permanently.
Discover why we believe that natural medicine treatments are the best way to treat temporomandibular joint syndrome.
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