Lack of Sleep & TMJ Pain

Could sleep be the best remedy for Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ/TMD)? It may not be the absolute solution, however, it significantly improves TMJ symptoms and pain. Sleep deprivation or disturbances may actually increase TMD pain. There are also sleep disorders that mimic similar symptoms to TMJ pain. We've talked about this in our previous post on sleep apnea and TMJ. You can read more about that here. 

Lack of sleep can be detrimental to those suffering from inflammation, autoimmune disease, and TMJ sufferers. Even things such as your posture are affected by lack of sleep. Just imagine, you get little sleep, wake up, hit the snooze button, run to the office and slouch into your chair. Being hunched over, having poor posture, or sleeping in the wrong position can alter your alignment affecting your head, neck, and jaw.

If you suffer from jaw pain and TMJ pain try not to sleep on your stomach. Instead, try sleeping on your back. A physical therapist can also help alleviate some pain for some patients, depending on their individual symptoms. Sometimes, TMJ patients have other joint pain. It is very important that these issues are addressed. Although knee pain may seem to be different than jaw pain they can be intimately related.

The TMJ Doctor, located in Beverly Hills, is a center for TMJ therapy and treatment. If you have questions about our office and Dr. Farnad, the TMJ Doctor, give us a call at (310)276-5300. We look forward to hearing from you! 

www.thetmjdoctor.com

Orthodontics and TMJ

Many of our patients either one of both of the following questions:

1. Have my braces or orthodontic treatments created my TMJ/TMD problem?

2. Will braces or orthodontics correct my TMJ/TMD problem?

Unfortunately, for many people braces and orthodontics can cause TMJ/ TMD or general jaw pain. Altering the position of the teeth can directly affect the way that you bite down and utilize the muscles in your jaw.

If you need braces or orthodontic treatment for aesthetic purposes or otherwise, do not be afraid that you will start having TMJ symptoms. It's important that you find an orthodontist that understands TMJ and its relationship to the teeth. If you need assistance selecting a specialist, our office is happy to help you. Dr. Farnad works with multiple orthodontists to ensure that our patients are properly taken care of. The TMJ Doctor understands that each specialist you see for your dental needs must be on the same page regarding your treatment.

As we have mentioned before, splints, orthotics (oral), bite plates, mouth guards, are not always the solution for TMJ, it is vital if you are experiencing TMJ pain in relation to your orthodontic treatment that you alert your orthodontist and seek treatment for your TMJ. Unfortunately, these things happen all the time and the best thing you can do is relax (we don't want the stress to make your TMJ worse) and find a specialist to find a solution for your TMJ pain.

Dr. Farnad has been a TMJ/TMD specialist for over 20 years. He is internationally recognized for his comprehensive treatment and care. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Farnad, The TMJ Doctor, please give us a call at (310)276-5300.

Is There a Link Between TMJ & Sleep Apnea?

The other day a patient asked us if there was a connection between her TMJ and her snoring. This is such an interesting question that we are very excited to address.

There is no direct relationship between sleep apnea and TMJ, but many sleep apnea patients have TMJ symptoms, such as muscle pain, due to emotional discomfort and lack of sleep. Patients with a small lower jaw, known as mandibular hypoplasia, have a greater chance of having TMJ derangement. Therefore, TMJ and sleep apnea are indirectly related.

Furthermore, the appliance that is made for TMJ and sleep apnea, an anterior positioning splint, is almost the same! In both appliances, the lower jaw is being moved forward. This is why a lot of general dentists offer TMJ and sleep apnea treatment to their patients. We believe it is important to see a specialist for TMJ and sleep apnea because not every patient should use, or will, benefit from a splint. Take a look at our previous post about splint therapy for TMJ, here.

For more information about what TMJ treatment is right for you, call our office for a consultation 

(310)276-5300 or toll free (866)DOC-4TMJ. 

Dr. Fariborz Farnad, DMD

421 N. Rodeo Dr. Ste T8

Beverly Hills, CA 90210

www.thetmjdoctor.com

www.bhcomfs.com

Who Should I See for TMJ?

We are often asked, "who should I see to treat my TMJ" or "why should I see an Oral Surgeon for TMJ?"

We are here to tell you why seeing an Oral Surgeon/DMD is so important. As soon as you feel TMJ/TMD symptoms, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon should be consulted immediately. An oral surgeon specializes specifically in the jaw, teeth, and mouth. Although your general dentist may be able to diagnosis TMJ/TMD disorders, they do not typically have the ability to provide a comprehensive treatment plan like an oral surgeon.

TMJ symptoms are unique to each individual and every patient needs a treatment plan created specifically for their symptoms and TMJ disorder. An oral surgeon can offer conservative dental treatments, such as a splint or Botox, to medically necessary surgery. Oftentimes, an oral surgeon can provide you with  prescription anti-inflammatory drugs to alleviate pain. They can provide non-invassive surgical procedures like arthrocentesis and arthroscopic surgery, which washes the joint and removes debris to stop painful TMJ symptoms.

In our office, Dr. Farnad reviews your entire medical history and does a comprehensive evaluation of your jaw and joints. Using state-of-the-art technology in the office, Dr. Farnad takes a CT image and explains in detail where the pain is coming from and will create a treatment plan specifically for you. Just like there is no one else in the world like you, there is no one else with identical TMJ symptoms. Seeing an oral surgeon who understands your condition is vital in proper treatment.

To schedule your consultation with Dr. Farnad, call (310)276-5300.

Have questions? The TMJ Doctor is happy to answer them, just email dr.fariborzfarnad@gmail.com

421 N. Rodeo Dr. #T8

Beverly Hills, CA 90210

(310)276-5300

www.thetmjdoctor.com

www.facebook.com/bhcomfs

TMJ Specialist for Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, and surrounding areas

TMJ Home Remedies

We use our jaw for almost everything! You need to be able to talk, chew, yawn, and laugh with comfort and ease. Total relaxation of the jaw joint and surrounding muscles is difficult for patients with TMJ pain. Holding the jaw muscles and joints in a relaxed position is, however, very manageable with practice. Regular attempts to relax the jaw muscles, and avoidance of activities that would overwork the area, will be helpful to reduce the pain and prevent additional strain to the area.

Here are some tips and tricks to reducing your TMJ pain and symptoms:

1. Apply moist heat for 20 min 2-4 times each day to the painful area. You can microwave a wet towel for 1-2 minutes or until the towel is warm or you can wrap the moist towel around a hot water bottle to keep it warm longer. You can also try applying ice wrapped in a thin washcloth for 10 minutes 2-4 times per day. Only apply ice until you first feel some numbness. Do not ice for more than 15 minutes. Heat or ice can reduce joint or muscle pain and relax the muscles.

2. Eat softer food, avoid hard foods like french bread, bagels, and chips. Avoid very chewy foods, such as steak and candy. Cut fruit and steamed vegetables into small pieces and chew with your back teeth rather than biting with your front teeth. Please do not chew gum.

3. Your new mantra is: Tongue up and teeth apart. Your teeth should never touch (except lightly for swallowing). We suggest you closely monitor your jaw position during the day, while you're awake, so that you maintain your jaw in a relaxed,comfortable position. This involves placing the tongue lightly on the top of your mouth behind your upper teeth, allowing the teeth to come apart and relaxing the jaw muscles.

4. Avoid caffeine. We know it hurts to put that cup of coffee down, but your TMJ probably hurts more! Caffeine is a "muscle contractor"drug and can make your muscles tighter. Caffeine you should avoid includes coffee, tea, soda, and chocolate. Decaffeinated coffee has half as much caffeine as regular, so try switching until you can kick the habit. 

5. Chew your food on both sides at the same time to reduce strain on one side.

6. Avoid clenching your teeth, grinding your teeth (bruxism), teeth touching or resting teeth together, biting cheeks, tongue or lip, biting pens, pencils, or other objects, gum chewing, tongue pushing against the teeth, jaw tensing or other habits.

7. Avoid resting your jaw on your hand.

8. Try avoid opening your mouth for extended period of times, prolonged yawning and dental treatments, until the pain is reduced.

9. Avoid sleeping on your stomach since this puts adverse forces on the jaw and neck muscles.

10. Use anti-inflammatory and pain medications like Ibuprofen, Tylenol, and Asprin (without caffeine) to reduce joint and muscle pain.

11. Try yoga, meditation, or even acupuncture to reduce stress. Exercise is a great way to relieve stress and unwind. Just be careful when you are working out. Try not to grind your teeth, clench your jaw, and avoid sports/movement that could allow you to be hit in the face.

If these tips and tricks do not help in reducing TMJ/Jaw pain and symptoms then we recommend being treated by a TMJ specialist. Call our office at (310)276-5300 or call toll free (866)DOC-4TMJ and schedule your consultation. 

For more information about TMJ symptoms and jaw pain, visit www.thetmjdoctor.com, to learn more about Dr. Farnad, our office, and how we can help improve your life and reduce your TMJ pain. 

Welcome to The TMJ Doctor's Blog!

We understand how frustrating TMJ can be for our patients. Sometimes, it's not only physical aspect but the emotional component of TMJ/TMD that makes it a particular difficult disorder. Our hope is to provide our patient's with a place to discuss their symptoms while learning new and relevant information about their TMJ and jaw pain. Our mission is to help our patients, and others suffering from TMJ, live a more pain free, stress free, and healthful life. 

Thank you for checking out our blog, we would love to hear your thoughts along the way! 

To schedule a consultation call us at (310)276-5300 or toll free (855)276-5300

421 N. Rodeo Dr. Ste T8

Beverly Hills, CA 90210

www.thetmjdoctor.com

www.bhcomfs.com