TMJ is shorthand for conditions and disorders of the temperomandibular joint. Disturbed sleep, migraine headaches, facial pain and chronic pain in the neck, shoulders, jaw, head and face can often be caused by TMJ. The temperomandibular joint is the hinge that allows your mouth to open and close. If you place your thumb just behind your ear and your index finger just below the tip of your chin, you're outlining the area in which the TMJ is located.
That small area - encompassing less than 5 percent of your total body surface - is home to hundreds of nerve endings, muscles and veins that supply your brain, nerves and muscles with blood and transmit neurological messages to your brain. When something is even slightly out of kilter in and around your TMJ, the results can range from chronic jaw pain, chronic migraines, neck pain, headaches, toothaches and uneven tooth wear - and that's just scratching the surface. TMJ pain is a general description of a broad range of conditions that can cause discomfort - chronic and acute - in the jaw and facial area.
Most doctors agree that one of the major causes of TMJ pain is poor jaw alignment or misaligned teeth. When your teeth don't meet properly, it sets off an entire series of little adjustments your body makes to try to compensate for the misalignment. At night, this often results in clenched jaws and teeth grinding, both of which exacerbate the issue and cause even more TMJ pain.
One solution to dealing with TMJ pain and teeth grinding - called bruxism - is to wear a mouthguard, particularly at night when you're not as aware of what you're doing. A TMJ mouth guard is a specially fitted appliance similar you wear at night to help stop grinding your teeth and clenching your jaw. A mouth guard helps change the way that you hold your jaw during the night, redistributing the muscle tension and helping to keep you from clenching and biting down or grinding your teeth.
The most effective mouthguards for TMJ are those that are specially fitted to your mouth by a dentist, but those can also be prohibitively expensive. There are a number of over the counter TMJ mouth guards on the market that can help alleviate TMJ pain, at least temporarily, and some may even reduce migraine headaches and tension headaches that are due to jaw clenching and TMJ pain. Nearly all of them are very good at helping you stop grinding your teeth at night, which is a major contributor to jaw pain, headache and even migraines.
With the many styles of night mouth guards on the market, it helps to do some research online and read reviews of the various manufacturers and styles. You'll also find information on how to modify typical night guards to make adapt them to your own mouth and your needs.
Whether your problem is teeth grinding or you suspect TMJ problems that cause migraines, tension headaches, facial pain and jaw pain, take the time to research the many nightguard treatments that can help reduce your discomfort both at night and the next day.
To learn more about subjects like TMJ please visit the web site at: http://www.simple-tmj-treatment.com/MouthguardsforTMJ.html
For more information and informative related articles and links about this subject matter and content, please visit Majon's Health Products | Health Vitamins | Dieting directory: http://www.majon.com/directory/health-products-health-vitamins-dieting. Also visit our Shopping Directory Marketplace for more related sites.
About the Author
Chris Robertson is a published author of Majon International. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2011 (Tue Oct 11 2011) Majon International. Majon International is one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing and internet advertising companies on the web. Visit their main business resource internet marketing web site at: http://www.majon.com
